Articles covering women in foodservice and the restaurant industry's progress toward achieving gender equality
Frost is the sixth person in the company’s history to serve as president
Susannah Frost has been named president of Chick-fil-A Inc., effective Oct. 1. Andrew Cathy will retain his role as chief executive officer, leading enterprise strategy and culture, while Frost will focus on core business operations. She will also lead the executive committee.
Chick-fil-A has historically operated with a CEO and president model, and Frost is now the sixth person to hold the president role since its founding in 1967.
“Susannah has demonstrated tremendous leadership throughout the business and has the range of expertise that will help the company continue growing with care and confidence,” Cathy said in a statement. “The timing is right to expand our leadership capabilities to include a president who will work closely with me and our executive committee to steward our domestic and global expansion.”
Frost currently leads restaurant development and field operations for Chick-fil-A, overseeing the company’s real estate portfolio and field operations for more than 3,000 restaurants domestically. Prior to joining Chick-fil-A, she was a real estate attorney at Troutman Sanders, advancing to partner. Since joining the company in 2007, Frost has assumed higher degrees of responsibility within the legal department, restaurant development, and operations.
“The future continues to offer so much potential and promise as we look to grow our opportunities to provide care and great food as well as live out our corporate purpose,” Frost said in a statement. “We have the opportunity to scale care with excellence across 3,000-plus restaurants and international markets.”
Frost holds an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Georgia and a law degree from Emory University. She also completed executive education programs at Columbia University and Harvard University.
Additionally, Cliff Robinson has been named chief operating officer of Chick-fil-A, effective Oct. 1. Robinson currently serves as chief people officer and his responsibilities will expand to include leading field operations and restaurant development. Robinson began working at Chick-fil-A at a young age as the son of a Chick-fil-A restaurant owner-operator. He joined the corporate office in 1990 and has held increasing roles of responsibility, including in field operations, development, and most recently CPO.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
