CKE Restaurants
 
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc. continues to grow its executive team with two more appointments and a promotion. In addition to a new chief marketing officer and COO announced last month, CKE has added Joanna Shepard as chief people officer, Stephen Carvelli as chief information officer, and promoted Jim Sullivan to chief development officer.

“It’s no secret that the people working in Carl’s, Jr. and Hardee’s restaurants around the globe have powered both brands’ success over the last 50 years – whether they are hand-breading tenders, baking biscuits fresh daily, or running great restaurants,” said Jason Marker, CKE CEO. “The additions of Joanna and Stephen, along with Jim’s promotion, will ensure that our business’s future growth will be powered by what got CKE here in the first place. We are excited that the culture, brand and future of CKE attracted such impressive and diverse talent.”

Joanna Shepherd, CKE Restaurants
Joanna Shepard, chief people officer, CKE Restaurants

Shepard’s 20 years of experience includes Gilbarco Inc. in Greensboro, North Carolina, where she led HR for the company’s global functions and leading organizational development and multi-faceted HR teams for Pizza Hut and A&W/Long John Silver’s.

“I’m grateful to join such an inspiring leadership team and company that prioritizes its people as much as CKE does,” Shepard said. “I look forward to the opportunity of helping to build a better guest experience through the people that work in and outside of our restaurants.”

Stephen Carvelli, CKE Restaurants
Stephen Carvelli, chief information officer, CKE Restaurants

Carvelli’s technology leadership experience over the last 20 years includes service as Chief Technology Officer of Lowe's Companies Inc., where he led digital transformation, enterprise architecture, operations and development. Before joining Lowe's, Stephen held progressive technology leadership roles in Fortune 500 companies including American Eagle Outfitters, Chico's FAS, OfficeMax, and The Walt Disney Co.

“I’ve seen firsthand over the course of my career that great guest experiences are engineered by people and technology – and not one at the expense of the other,” Carvelli said. “CKE Restaurants became a global phenomenon thanks primarily to its people and quality offerings, so my job will begin with providing our team members and customers with the right tools to reimagine our restaurant experience and continue to deliver our classic American fare in new and innovative ways.”

Sullivan’s promotion is highlighted by his successful leadership of CKE’s domestic restaurant footprint expansion in both core and high growth markets, which has led the entire QSR category in net new unit growth in the segment for the last two years. In his expanded role Jim will continue to spearhead the company’s growth agenda, focusing on domestic real estate development activities for the portfolio.