Popeyes names interim CFOPopeyes names interim CFO

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. has named its vice president of finance, Tony W. Woodard, interim chief financial officer, effective May 23.

Woodard will replace H. Melville Hope III, who said last month that he would resign as CFO of Popeyes to pursue other opportunities. Atlanta-based Popeyes has begun to search for a permanent chief financial officer.

Woodard joined Popeyes in 2004, and has served as vice president of finance since 2006. He chairs a cross-functional committee that to date has produced more than $40 million in cost savings from the chain’s 2,225 restaurants.

RELATED
• Popeyes CFO to step down
• Popeyes CEO: Franchisees come first
• More restaurant executive changes

For its most recent fiscal year, ended Dec. 29, 2013, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. grew its net income 12.2 percent, to $34.1 million, or $1.43 per share. Full-year same-store sales in the United States rose 3.7 percent.

As of the end of 2013, Popeyes operated 53 company-owned locations and franchised another 1,716 units in the United States. Its franchised international system had 456 restaurants in 31 international markets.

Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @Mark_from_NRN