Marketing

Denny's hires Sherri Landry as CMO

The longtime industry veteran will move over from Chuck E. Cheese's parent company at the end of the month.
Landry will move over from the parent of Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza. / Photo: Shutterstock

Denny’s has hired Sherri Landry away from Chuck E. Cheese’s parent company to serve as the diner chain’s new CMO and SVP.

She will report directly to Denny’s President John Dillon, who rose to his current post through marketing.

Landry will assume her new job on Jan. 30. She comes to the position with more than 25 years of experience in marketing, most recently as CMO of CEC Entertainment. CEC operates the Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza chains.

Earlier, she held senior-level posts at Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays and Main Event.

Simultaneous with the Denny’s vacant CMO post being filled, Denny’s will expand the duties of two current executives. Fasika Melaku will oversee all of Denny’s personnel functions as chief learning officer and SVP of human resources, and Laurie Curtis will handle internal and external communications, as well as partnerships, as VP of communications and brand integration.

The personnel changes are the latest staff adjustments Denny’s parent company has made since bringing aboard Kelli Valade as CEO to replace John Miller. Those moves included the appointment of Dillon as president of the Denny’s brand and the hiring of Dave Schmidt as president of the company’s newly acquired growth concept, Keke’s Breakfast Café.

Denny’s Corp. operates or franchises 1,631 Denny’s-brand diners and about 52 Keke’s breakfast and lunch restaurants.

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