CKE Restaurants names new CEO, replacing ex-Trump nominee

CKE Restaurants — parent company of burger chains Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr — has named a new chief executive to replace Andy Puzder, who recently withdrew as Donald Trump’s nominee to serve as the new US labour secretary.

CKE announced on Tuesday that it had tapped Jason Marker, who most recently served as president of another fast-food chain, Kentucky Fried Chicken US. He is expected to take over the top job in April.

Mr Marker has held a number of positions at KFC and Yum! Brands International, and previously worked in brand-management roles at consumer giant Unilever.

Mr Puzder, who has led CKE since 2000, had been selected by Mr Trump to serve as labour secretary, but withdrew last month “after careful consideration,” and amid waning support for his nomination, even from members of Mr Trump’s Republican party. He was replaced by law-school dean and former federal labour-relations board member Alexander Acosta.

He said in a statement on Tuesday that he had expressed a desire a year ago to have a succession plan in place, and that he “could not be more pleased” to have Mr Marker as his replacement.