Leadership

KFC U.S. makes some executive changes

Ben Dubost was named chief development officer for the chicken chain and Kate Ward was named chief legal officer.
KFC new executives
KFC named a new chief development officer and a new chief legal officer for its U.S. business. / Photograph: Shutterstock.

KFC U.S. on Friday named Ben Dubost its new chief development officer while Kate Ward was named chief legal officer. Both executives’ new positions will be effective Jan. 1.

Dubost joined KFC France in 2013 as franchise business director. He was promoted to chief development officer and chief digital officer for KFC Middle East. He joined KFC global as VP of development in 2021. He takes over for Brian Cahoe, who had been CDO since 2015.

Dubost “is an impactful leader and trusted franchise partner who has been instrumental in driving development strategy in KFC markets globally,” Tarun Lal, president of KFC U.S., said in a statement.

Ward has been with KFC U.S. since 2016, when she joined the company as an attorney overseeing employment law and litigation. She was promoted director of legal in 2018 and in 2019 provided legal support to various departments. She will succeed Melanie Bootes, who has been CLO for KFC U.S. since 2015.

Lal called Ward “a strategic partner, collaborator and trusted adviser to both her colleagues and our KFC franchise partners.”

KFC operates more than 3,900 U.S. locations, all but 47 of which are franchisee owned. The brand operates more than 27,000 global restaurants.  

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