News
Church's Chicken appoints new CEO
December 7, 2009
Six months after finalizing its purchase of the Church's Chicken chain, new parent company Friedman, Fleischer & Lowe (FFL) has replaced five-year president and CEO Harsha Agadi. Mel Deane, who for the last 10 years has worked closely with many of the companies owned by FFL, will become the chain's new CEO, effective immediately, Church's board of directors has announced.
Deane has held senior leadership positions in many of FFL's portfolio companies, most recently as CEO of Discovery Foods, the leading manufacturer of Asian branded frozen foods. Since August, Deane has been executive vice president and general manager of U.S. operations for Church's Chicken. In this role, he has accelerated operational and marketing improvements as well as product development.
Agadi will remain involved with the company as an active member of the board of directors. The board expressed its appreciation for Agadi's tireless commitment to the brand and for his many years of dedicated service to the company.
Agadi has been Church's CEO since 2004, when former owner Arcapita Bank B.S.C. bought the company from AFC Enterprises Inc., parent company of Popeyes Chicken. During his tenure, Church's Chicken added its spicy chicken line, increased margins, expanded its store base and added new markets in the United States as well as internationally under the Texas Chicken brand, opening in Latin America, the Arabian Gulf, the United Kingdom, Russia and India.
In 2006, the company passed the $1 billion annual earnings mark. Church's now generates more than $1.2 billion of global system sales annually.
Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952, Church's Chicken is a one of the largest quick-service chicken concepts in the world with more than 1,700 locations in 22 countries.The company is completing one of the best expansion years in its 58-year history, with the opening of more than 100 new restaurants.
David Lowe, founding partner of FFL, said the company will focus on building enterprise value and growth under Deane's leadership. "Mel Deane is a true 'value builder' who focuses relentlessly on the consumer. He did it at Discovery Foods, and we are confident that he will do it again with Church's Chicken."
Deane met with the board of the Church's Independent Franchise Association to describe his vision for their continued growth and success. Lyndon Johnson, CIFA president, said the group has "welcomed Mel Deane to the Church's Chicken ‘family,' and we applaud his new leadership role."
Deane said he is eager to lead the company through its growth plans.
"As I have gotten to know the people at Church's — including their highly successful network of franchisees — I believe they aspire to become the most respected and admired brand in their quick-service restaurant segment," he said.
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