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KFC promotes Sabir Sami from COO to Division CEO

Current KFC Division CEO Tony Lowings is retiring, and Sami will be promoted to CEO effective Jan. 1, 2022

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

September 22, 2021

2 Min Read
kfc Sabir headshot
Sabir Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years.KFC

Joanna Fantozzi

Yum Brands announced Wednesday the promotion of Sabir Sami — who currently serves as KFC Division Global COO and managing director of KFC Asia — to KFC Division CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Sami will be replacing current KFC CEO Tony Lowings, who is retiring at the end of the year. Additionally, KFC’s current chief development officer, Dyke Shipp, will be promoted to KFC Division president.

Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years and has held a number of positions, including General Manager of KFC restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa. He has held his current role of the brand’s Global COO/Asia Managing Director since Jan. 2020, where he helps oversee 17 markets in the area.

“Sabir is an exceptional leader with deep expertise and knowledge of our business and has a strong, proven track record of growing KFC’s physical and brand presence in markets around the world,” Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs said in a statement. “As a highly respected strategic brand builder, operations expert and heart-led leader, Sabir is a natural choice to continue successfully executing KFC’s long-term global growth strategies in close partnership with our franchisees and further elevate KFC as a relevant, easy and distinctive (R.E.D.) brand.”

In his new role, Sami will be responsible for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC around the globe.

“I am incredibly privileged and excited to continue working with our talented and dedicated KFC leaders and amazing franchise partners around the world to keep strengthening and accelerating the development of our powerful, iconic brand,” Sami said in a statement. “KFC is uniquely positioned around the world as a well-loved, well-trusted brand with millions of fans – the future is certainly bright.”

Lowings will remain KFC Division CEO through the end of the year as the team transitions to new leadership. He will remain with Yum Brands in a different transitional position in the first quarter of 2022.

Contact Joanna at joanna.fantozzi@informa.com

Find her on Twitter: @JoannaFantozzi

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KFCYum Brands

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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