News

KFC creates chief chicken officer position, certification program

June 27, 2011

KFC has named Aaron Person as its first-ever chief chicken officer, a newly created position designed to served as spokesman for the rollout of the chain's new Cook Certification Program.

Orlando, Fla.-based Person is a 25-year veteran with the brand.

Thousands of KFC cooks across the country will participate in this initiative as the chain works to ensure that every restaurant location continues to maintain the quality Colonel Sanders demanded more than 70 years ago.

"At KFC we pride ourselves on having trained cooks in every one of our kitchens coast to coast, preparing the world's best chicken that our customers know and love every day," said Barry Westrum, chief marketing officer for KFC. "Our CCO was selected from a long list of KFC cooks who have exemplary work records and are great role models for their coworkers. We are confident our restaurants across the country will benefit from Aaron's 'So Good' advice."

Person will star in videos designed to reinforce how to best prepare Original Recipe chicken the way Colonel Sanders intended — hand-breading and cooking it fresh every day. Person may also potentially star in a commercial highlighting the cooks in every kitchen at KFC.

The chain is currently airing commercials starring actual KFC cooks from across the country.

"I've had the honor of cooking Colonel Sanders' recipes every day for the past 25 years and I can't believe I've been chosen from more than 5,000 KFC cooks nationwide to take on this new role of chief chicken officer at KFC," said Person. "I'm excited to team up with our incredible roster of cooks all over the country so we can continue to elevate the service we provide our consumers at KFC each and every day."

Earlier this year, Person was recognized by KFC President John Cywinski for "outstanding product" and he was once the only participant in a company team challenge to receive a perfect score for preparing chicken.