Pete Suerken's departure as President and Chief Executive Officer of Wendy's Co was reported; the filing names no successor. As of November 6, 2026, Wendy's Co has reported 4 leadership change filings to the SEC under Item 5.02 of Form 8-K, from May 20, 2026 to August 17, 2026, naming 4 appointments and 2 departures (Form 8-K, August 17, 2026).
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Key facts
- · In / out: Out · Person: Pete Suerken · Role: President and Chief Executive Officer · 8-K, 2026-08-17
- · In / out: In · Person: Steven W. Cirulis · Role: Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer · Effective: 2026-06-23 · 8-K, 2026-06-23
- · In / out: Out · Person: Suzanne M. Thuerk · Role: Chief Accounting Officer · 8-K, 2026-06-09
- · In / out: In · Person: Robert D. Wright · Role: President and Chief Executive Officer · Effective: 2026-05-21 · 8-K, 2026-05-20
Wendy's Co reported changes in 4 filings among its directors and officers to the SEC on Form 8-K, Item 5.02, from 2026-05-20 to 2026-08-17. They name 5 people, with 4 appointments and 2 departures. Every row below is cited to the filing it comes from, and this page adds each new change as Wendy's Co files it.
Also on the record for Wendy's Co
| Date | Record | Figure | Our page | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 28, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13D/A, by Trian Fund Management, L.P. | 16.23% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| July 31, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by Vanguard Portfolio Management | 5.48% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| July 30, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by BlackRock, Inc. | 12.8% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| May 15, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by HARRIS ASSOCIATES L P | 3.1% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| May 14, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by AQR Capital Management, LLC | 1.64% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| April 24, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by BlackRock, Inc. | 10.4% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| March 27, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by The Vanguard Group | — | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| February 18, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13D/A, by Trian Fund Management, L.P. | 16.24% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| February 13, 2026 | Stake report, Schedule 13G, by AQR Capital Management, LLC | 6.15% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| November 14, 2025 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by AQR Capital Management, LLC | 4.45% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| October 31, 2025 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by The Vanguard Group | 9.75% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
| October 17, 2025 | Stake report, Schedule 13G/A, by BlackRock, Inc. | 12.1% of the class | 5%+ stakes | Source |
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Keep reading
More on Wendy's Co and the records around it.
Wendy's Co elsewhere on the record
- 5%+ stake filings Oct 2026
- Who owns it
Companies that share a holder
- Nelson Peltz also filed stake reports on 1 other company: JANUS HENDERSON GROUP PLC (Jun 2026)
- HARRIS ASSOCIATES L P also filed stake reports on 19 other companies: Corebridge Financial, Inc. (May 2026), ICON plc (May 2026), Lithia Motors, Inc. (May 2026)
- AQR Capital Management, LLC also filed stake reports on 190 other companies: Bold Eagle Acquisition Corp. (Nov 2026), Centurion Acquisition Corp. (Aug 2026), FG Merger II Corp. n/k/a BOXABL Inc. (Aug 2026)
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The newest 12 of 16 records.
Timeline
| Filed | In / out | Person | Role | Effective | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-08-17 | Out | President and Chief Executive Officer | 8-K, 2026-08-17 | ||
| 2026-06-23 | In | Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer | 2026-06-23 | 8-K, 2026-06-23 | |
| 2026-06-09 | Out | Chief Accounting Officer | 8-K, 2026-06-09 | ||
| 2026-06-09 | In | Chief Accounting Officer | 2026-06-08 | 8-K, 2026-06-09 | |
| 2026-05-20 | In | President and Chief Executive Officer | 2026-05-21 | 8-K, 2026-05-20 | |
| 2026-05-20 | In | Director | 8-K, 2026-05-20 |
Who leads Wendy's Co, as last reported?
For each role that changed in the filings below, the most recent change reported. A role that did not change in these filings is not listed.
- President and Chief Executive Officer: Pete Suerken, departure reported (filed 2026-08-17). No successor is named in these filings.
- Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer: Steven W. Cirulis, appointed, effective 2026-06-23 (filed 2026-06-23).
- Chief Accounting Officer: Suzanne M. Thuerk, departure reported (filed 2026-06-09). No successor is named in these filings.
- Director: Robert D. Wright, appointed (filed 2026-05-20).
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Departing: Pete Suerken, President and Chief Executive Officer
(b) and (e) On August 14, 2026, Pete Suerken, President, U.S. of The Wendy's Company ("Wendy's" or the "Company"), notified the Company of his intention to resign from the Company to become the President and Chief Executive Officer of Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc. ("QSCC"), the independent purchasing cooperative for the Wendy's system.
- Mr. Suerken previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of QSCC from January 2021 to July 2025.
- Mr. Suerken is anticipated to depart the Company effective August 31, 2026.
- As disclosed on its earnings call for the fiscal quarter ended June 28, 2026, the Company is evaluating restructuring and reorganization efforts and, in light of Mr. Suerken's departure, has determined to eliminate the position of President, U.S. and create a new position of Chief Operations Officer that will report to the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer.
- The Company is currently recruiting for this new position.
- Mr. Suerken will not receive any other benefits in connection with his departure and all of his outstanding equity awards, other than as described above, will be forfeited.
Appointed: Steven W. Cirulis, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer, effective 2026-06-23
Chief Financial Officer Transition On June 19, 2026, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of The Wendy's Company (the "Company") appointed Steven W. Cirulis as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of the Company, effective June 23, 2026 (the "Effective Date").
- In connection with the appointment, Ken Cook will cease to be the Chief Financial Officer of the Company as of the Effective Date.
- In addition, the Board terminated Mr. Cook's employment with the Company, without cause, effective as of July 31, 2026.
- Mr. Cirulis, age 55, previously served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Strategy Officer of Potbelly Sandwich Works, LLC from April 2020 until December 2025.
- Prior to that, Mr. Cirulis served in a strategic planning, finance and analytical consulting role for Potbelly Sandwich Works, LLC from December 2019 until April 2020.
- Prior to that, Mr. Cirulis provided venture capital consulting services under his firm, Intrepid Advisory, LLC, from August 2018 to December 2019.
- Mr. Cirulis previously served as Senior Vice President, Strategic Projects at Panera Bread Company from April 2017 to July 2018.
- Prior to his role at Panera Bread Company, Mr. Cirulis was the Global Vice President, Corporate Strategy at McDonald's Corporation from August 2011 to September 2016.
- Prior to joining McDonald's Corporation, Mr. Cirulis was Senior Director of Strategy, Business Development and Insights for Gap Brand at Gap, Inc. from October 2006 to May 2011.
- Mr. Cirulis will be eligible for an annual, performance-based bonus under the Company's annual incentive plan with a target equal to 90% of his annual base salary.
Departing: Suzanne M. Thuerk, Chief Accounting Officer
On June 4, 2026, Suzanne M. Thuerk, Chief Accounting Officer (principal accounting officer) of The Wendy's Company (the "Company"), provided notice to the Company of her intention to resign from the Company to pursue an opportunity outside the restaurant space.
Appointed: Aaron M. Kale, Chief Accounting Officer, effective 2026-06-08
In connection with the above, on June 7, 2026, Aaron M. Kale, currently Vice President - Tax, was appointed as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer and Vice President - Tax (principal accounting officer), effective as of June 8, 2026.
- Ms. Thuerk will remain with the Company in a non-executive capacity until July 10, 2026 to support the transition to Mr. Kale.
- Mr. Kale, age 49, has served in his current position as Vice President - Tax since April 2019 and, since July 2025, has also been providing interim support and leadership to the Company's accounting function.
- Mr. Kale joined the Company in July 2012, serving as Director - Global Income Tax Compliance from August 2017 to April 2019, Director - International and Property Tax from August 2014 to August 2017 and Director - International Tax from July 2012 to August 2014.
- Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kale held various positions in tax at L Brands, Inc. and previously worked in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Appointed: Robert D. Wright, President and Chief Executive Officer, effective 2026-05-21
On May 17, 2026, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of The Wendy's Company (the "Company") appointed Robert D. Wright as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective May 21, 2026 (the "Effective Date").
Appointed: Robert D. Wright, Director
The Board also elected Mr. Wright to serve as a director of the Company, as of the Effective Date.
- In connection with this appointment, Kenneth Cook will cease to be the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company as of the Effective Date.
- Mr. Cook will continue to serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
- Mr. Wright, age 58, brings extensive leadership experience across the quick-service restaurant industry and a strong track record of driving operational performance, business transformation and growth.
- He most recently served as President and Chief Executive Officer, as well as a member of the board of directors, of Potbelly Corporation from July 2020 until December 2025.
- Mr. Wright previously served as the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer from December 2018 until May 2019, a role that he also previously held from December 2014 to May 2016.
- Mr. Wright also served as the Company's Executive Vice President, Chief Operations Officer and International from May 2016 to December 2018 and as Chief Operations Officer from March 2014 to December 2014.
- Prior to that, Mr. Wright served in other roles with the Company and leadership roles with other restaurant brands, including Charleys Philly Steaks, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. and Domino's Pizza, Inc. Mr. Wright serves as a director of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., having joined the board in January 2026.
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Where this comes from
A public company must file a current report on Form 8-K with the SEC within four business days when a director leaves or is elected, or when its chief executive, chief financial, chief accounting or chief operating officer, or another named executive, departs or is appointed. That disclosure goes under Item 5.02 of the report.
Every change on this page is taken from one of those filings and quoted in the company's own words, with a link to the filing, so it can be checked at the source. Where a filing names the person, the role and the date a change takes effect, they are shown beside the quote. Where it does not, the quote stands on its own. A filing states what changed; it rarely states why, and neither does this page.