Wendy's EVP Don Calhoon is moving into Semi-Retirement
Calhoon will assume new responsibilities supporting Enterprise initiatives. Company will conduct search for new EVP & Chief Marketing Officer for the Wendy's brand.
August 23, 2004
DUBLIN, Ohio, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/-- Wendy's International, Inc. (NYSE:WEN) today announced that Executive Vice President of Wendy's® Marketing Don Calhoon is moving into a semi-retirement role after 26 years with the Company and will assume new responsibilities. Calhoon will assist Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jack Schuessler with Enterprise marketing opportunities and initiatives. The Company has initiated a national search for a new Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Wendy's brand. The position will continue to report to Wendy's North America President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Mueller. The Company has retained the premier global executive search firm Russell Reynolds to conduct the search for a world-class marketing executive. Calhoon will continue in his current role until the new EVP is hired. "We will ensure a seamless transition in marketing over the next several months by focusing on disciplined planning and balanced marketing," said Schuessler. "Wendy's marketing has a long and successful track record. Don has provided excellent leadership, strategies and processes while building a strong team. Marketing has successfully partnered with operations, research and development, other key departments and our franchisees to produce consistently strong results. "Wendy's 16 consecutive years of positive same-store sales in the United States are a testimony to the effectiveness of our marketing group. We are positioned to produce one of our best years in sales growth with same-store sales for the first six months of 2004 up a robust 7.4% at our Wendy's company restaurants," said Schuessler. "We are also very pleased with our 'Mr. Wendy' advertising campaign, which is receiving positive feedback from consumers."Supporting the EVP of Wendy's marketing are two experienced professionals - senior vice presidents Bob Levite and Mary Ann Pilotte - and their staffs. Levite is a 15-year veteran of the Wendy's organization, including the last four years with the Company. He previously led the Columbus, Ohio, office of Bates Worldwide, which was Wendy's long-time advertising agency that managed the highly successful Dave Thomas marketing campaign. Levite currently directs the creative, brand marketing and media functions. Pilotte is a 20- year veteran of Wendy's and has held a number of marketing positions in the field, for Wendy's Restaurants of Canada and at the corporate office. Pilotte currently directs the marketing planning, analysis, consumer research and field marketing functions. Also supporting the Wendy's marketing team is the Company's advertising agency partners, McCann-Erickson Worldwide and the Vidal Partnership, as well as the public relations agency Ketchum Worldwide.Wendy's International, Inc. overviewWendy's International, Inc. is one of the world's largest restaurant operating and franchising companies with quality brands - Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers®, Tim Hortons® and Baja Fresh Mexican Grill®. The Company invested in two additional quality brands during 2002 - Cafe Express™ and Pasta Pomodoro®. More information about the Company is available at www.wendys-invest.com. Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers was founded in 1969 by Dave Thomas and is the third largest quick-service hamburger restaurant chain in the world, with 6,535 restaurants in the United States, Canada and international markets. More information about Wendy's is available at www.wendys.com. Tim Hortons was founded in 1964 by Tim Horton and Ron Joyce and is the largest coffee and fresh baked goods restaurant chain in Canada. There are 2,370 Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada and 228 in the U.S. More information about Tim Hortons is available at www.timhortons.com. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill was founded in 1990 by Jim and Linda Magglos and is the leader in quality, fast-casual Mexican food. The chain has 305 restaurants in the United States. More information about Baja Fresh is available at www.bajafresh.com. Cafe Express was founded in 1984 by Robert Del Grande and Lonnie Schiller. The fast-casual, bistro-style restaurant chain has 18 units in Texas. Wendy's International, Inc. owns 70% of Cafe Express and chain's results were consolidated beginning in February 2004. More information about Cafe Express is available at www.cafe-express.com. Pasta Pomodoro was founded in 1994 by Adriano Paganini and operates 40 fast-casual, fresh Italian style restaurants in California and Arizona. Wendy's International, Inc. owns 25% (fully diluted) of Pasta Pomodoro. More information about Pasta Pomodoro is available at www.pastapomodoro.com. All restaurant store counts are as of June 27, 2004.Safe Harbor statementCertain information in this news release, particularly information regarding future economic performance and finances, and plans, expectations and objectives of management, is forward looking. Factors set forth in our Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, in addition to other possible factors not listed, could affect the Company's actual results and cause such results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Please review the Company's Safe Harbor statement at http://www.wendys-invest.com/safeharbor. Cafe Express is a trademark of Cafe Express, LLC Pasta Pomodoro is a registered trademark of Pasta Pomodoro, Inc.source:Wendy's International, Inc. 
