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KFC names Tarun Lal president of U.S. businessKFC names Tarun Lal president of U.S. business

Lal is currently managing director of KFC Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, Africa and India

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

June 23, 2022

1 Min Read
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Joanna Fantozzi

Yum Brands’ KFC global on Thursday named Tarun Lal president of the KFC U.S. business, effective July 15. Lal is replacing Kevin Hochman, who left the company June 3 to become the president and CEO of Brinker International.

Currently, Lal is the managing director of KFC Middle East, Pakistan, Turkey, Africa and India and has been with Yum Brands since 2000, when he was hired as the director of operations at Pizza Hut. Since then, Lal has served in multiple roles at the company, including global COO of KFC, and has mainly worked in international regions for Yum Brands.

In his current role, Lal helped KFC across sub-Saharan Africa and unlocked new markets for the brand. He also is a champion of women’s leadership at Yum Brands and helped sponsor talent initiatives like Next-Generation of Women (N.O.W.) for the company.

As U.S. president, he will report to Dyke Shipp, KFC division president, and relocate to the KFC U.S. headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

"Tarun has proven to be a best-in-class operator with a strong commercial outlook and approach," said Shipp. "As he joins the U.S. brand, we are confident he will be met with a similar passion for consistent execution and achieving breakthrough results."

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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