Louisville, Ky. — Yum! Brands, Inc. has promoted Scott Mezvinsky to KFC division chief executive officer, reporting to Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs, effective March 1, 2025. Mezvinsky, a 20-year veteran of the company who currently serves as president of Taco Bell North America and international, will succeed Sabir Sami, who is stepping down as KFC CEO at the end of February. Mezvinsky will assume global responsibility for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC.
“Scott is one of Yum! Brands’ most respected leaders, with more than 20 years of experience with the company in areas including operations, strategy, finance and development and a strong track record of delivering impactful results,” says Gibbs. “He is a natural choice to lead KFC’s long term global growth strategies, working in close partnership with our franchisees.”
Prior to his most recent role, Mezvinsky was Taco Bell’s global chief strategy & financial officer, leading the finance, development and strategy functions to help reach the company’s goal of becoming a $20 billion brand. Since joining Yum! Brands in 2004, Mezvinsky held various roles at KFC and Yum!, including general manager (GM) of KFC Iberia. He also held roles in the KFC Latin America and Caribbean market, including chief development officer and vice president, development and operations.
Sami has been CEO of the KFC division since January 2022 and has held executive positions with Yum! Brands since 2009, including KFC division chief operating officer and managing director of KFC Asia, managing director for the KFC Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Turkey markets, and GM of Yum! Canada and GM of the KFC Canada and Turkey businesses.
“I would like to thank Sabir for his years of service and dedication to Yum! Brands and KFC, and the meaningful impact he has had on our business,” says Gibbs. “He is a highly respected leader in our company and the industry whose focus on strategic brand building and operations has helped elevate the KFC brand around the world. We wish him well as he enjoys this new phase of life with his family.”
KFC is a global chicken restaurant brand with more than 30,000 restaurants in 150 countries and territories around the world. KFC is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 60,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the company’s concepts: Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill.
SOURCE: Yum! Brands, Inc.