Wendy's Names Emil Brolick as CEO

Fast-food chain Wendys (NYSE:WEN) said on Thursday that it has named Emil Brolick as new chief executive effective Sept. 12, replacing current boss Roland Smith just two months after the restaurant spun off Arbys.

Smith, who has served as CEO of Wendys/Arbys since September 2008 and head of just Wendys since July, will serve as a senior advisor to the company during a transition period and will remain on the companys board of directors.

Brolick, who will relocate to the Dublin, Ohio area, will also join the board.

The new chief worked at Wendys for 12 years, serving as senior vice president of new product marketing, research and strategic planning, before leaving the company in 2000 to take on the new role of chief operating officer at Yum! Brands (NYSE:YUM).

We are thrilled to welcome Emil back to the Wendys family, said Nelson Peltz, chairman of Wendys in a statement. Emil is a proven brand builder in the restaurant industry who recently led the turnaround of Taco Bell and drove strong same-store sales growth.

Following his time at Yum Brands, Brolick served as Taco Bells chief concept officer. Most recently, he was president of A&W All American Foods and Long John Silvers.