Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) is fortifying its management lineup with strategic appointments in key roles.
Effective February 5, Thuthuka Nxumalo will assume the role of Chief Operations Officer for KFC U.S., while Christophe Poirier will join KFC U.S. as Chief New Concept Officer on February 1. Reporting directly to Tarun Lal, President of KFC U.S., both executives bring a wealth of experience to their new positions.
In his capacity as Chief Operations Officer, Nxumalo will spearhead the development of the company’s operations strategy, focusing on enhancing execution across all KFC U.S. restaurants. Prior to joining KFC U.S., Nxumalo served as COO at KFC Africa for the past three years, where he drove notable improvements in key operational metrics. His background includes nearly four years at Anheuser-Busch InBev as Brewery Operations Director in South Africa and over 15 years with SABMiller and South African Breweries in various roles.
As Chief New Concept Officer, Poirier will be tasked with advancing the modernization of the KFC concept. With a history at KFC parent Yum! Brands since 2005, Poirier spent the last eight years at Pizza Hut, most recently holding the position of Global Chief Brand Officer.
KFC, with a presence in nearly 150 countries and territories worldwide, operates over 29,000 restaurants. These strategic appointments underscore KFC’s dedication to refining operational strategies and continuing to innovate and modernize its concept in the dynamic fast-food industry.