KFC Corp. on Thursday promoted Staci Rawls to chief communications officer for the brand’s U.S. division.
As part of the newly-created position, Rawls will oversee the development of KFC’s overall business narrative and will lead external and internal communications, including public relations, public affairs and crisis and issues management.
Rawls has led communications for KFC U.S. during her four-year tenure at the company as director of public affairs.
“Staci has been a key leader in KFC’s brand turnaround in the U.S.,” Kevin Hochman, president of KFC U.S., said in a statement. He said Rawls “will continue to shape and tell our story” in an expanded role.
Staci Rawls
Louisville, Ky.-based KFC gives Rawls credit for overseeing major brand milestones, such as a commitment to remove antibiotics important to human medicine from its supply chain.
She also led some of the chain’s iconic moments, such as fried chicken-scented sunscreen and its 11 Herbs & Spices Firelogs, as well as the launch of KFC’s first female colonel, Reba McEntire, and sending a Zinger chicken sandwich into space.
“Breaking through the clutter of the modern media environment is challenging,” Rawls said in a statement “I couldn’t be more excited to continue to innovate communications strategies that bring our company narrative to life and drive our business forward.”
Rawls has worked in strategic communications for nearly two decades, with companies such as J.C. Penney Co., Papa John’s International and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.
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