Staffing

CKE Restaurants appoints Joe Guith CEO

Photo: CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc.

March 6, 2025

CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc., parent company company of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, has named Joe Guith as CEO effective immediately, according to a press release.

Guith previously served as CEO of Church's Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and built stronger relationships with the franchisee community, leading to significant improvements in unit-level profitability, record sales and traffic growth.

These changes led to expanding the Church's Texas Chicken footprint to more than 1,500 locations across 23 countries. He has also held leadership roles at GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands), McAlister's Deli, Cinnabon and The Coca Cola Company.

"I am honored to join such a respected and iconic company. Carl's Jr. and Hardee's have a rich history of delivering craveable flavors and exceptional service, and I am eager to work with the talented team and franchisees to build on this legacy," Guith said in the release.

Sara Spiegel, CKE board member and interim CEO, said Guith brings a blend of industry expertise and visionary leadership that aligns with the goals for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's.

"We are confident that his proven track record in brand growth and operational excellence will drive our company forward, allowing us to reach new levels of success and innovation," Spiegel said in the release.

CKE Restaurant Holdings Inc. owns more than 3,600 franchised or company-owned Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants.