Operations

Andy Wiederhorn returns to CEO role at FAT Brands

September 3, 2025

Andy Wiederhorn is back at the helm of FAT Brands Inc., the parent company of Fatburger, Johnny Rockets, Round Table Pizza, and 15 other restaurant concepts.

He stepped down last year after facing federal charges alleging that he was involved in a $47 million "sham loan" scheme. The 2024 indictment accused Wiederhorn, assisted by former CFO Rebecca Hershinger and Ron Amon, who had provided tax-advisory services to Wiederhorn, of concealing millions in reportable compensation and taxable income and evading millions in taxes. Federal prosecutors had alleged he treated the company as his "personal slush fund."

Those charges were dismissed in June 2025.

During Wiederhorn's hiatus, FAT's CFO Ken Kuick and CDO Taylor Wiederhorn served as co-CEOs but will now return to their previous roles.

"I am grateful to both Ken and Taylor for their time as Co-CEO's where they were instrumental in accelerating growth across our portfolio of brands," Wiederhorn, CEO and Chairman of FAT Brands Inc., said in the release. "I am thrilled to step back into the CEO role, building on our momentum and delivering on our strategic priorities — organic expansion, targeted acquisitions, increasing our manufacturing facility's capacity and focusing on our balance sheet — to reinforce our position as a global leader in the restaurant industry."