News

Controversial former CKE CEO lands at Pepperdine University

January 17, 2020

Andrew Puzder, the once-controversial former CEO of Hardee's and Carl's Jr. parent, CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc. has joined Pepperdine University School of Public Policy in South Carolina as a  senior fellow. The school said in a news release that Puzder will use his experience as an accomplished lawyer, speaker and businessman to work with students in a mentorship and advisory role. 

The university said that Puzder's roles in the restaurant business, as well as his experience as a lecturer and author on economic, political and legal issues, positions him well to help build the school's public leadership program.

"As someone with both private sector and policy experience, Andy exemplifies the kind of cross-sector leaders we seek to prepare here at the School of Public Policy," Pepperdine School of Public Policy Dean Pete Peterson said in the release. "He has been a clear and thoughtful voice on issues related to economic policy and the important moral implications of free markets, and I'm very excited to welcome him as a senior fellow."

Puzder served as CKE CEO for 16 years, until former KFC U.S. President Jason Marker assumed the job in April 2017. He stepped into what became an often-negative national spotlight when President Donald Trump nominated him to lead the U.S. Labor Department. 

He pulled out of that nomination process after congressional Republicans withdrew support for him in the job after it was alleged that he failed to pay taxes within a timely period for his former housekeeper who wasn't authorized to work in this country. He also took a barrage of heat from labor organizations for his well-publicized opinions opposing significant wage increases as well as regulations intended to protect American workers.