Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner gives advice for Gen Z on the #LeadershipNext podcast
About Kirk Tanner
Kirk Tanner, President and CEO of Wendy's, has discussed the company's growth strategy and operational priorities in several interviews in early 2025. He stated that the company's primary focus is on unit growth, setting a target of 1,000 net new restaurants globally by 2028, with approximately 70% of those units expected to come from outside the U.S. Tanner described the international opportunity as "grand," noting that Wendy's has 1,300 restaurants in 33 countries outside the U.S. and that many competitors have more international locations. He also highlighted breakfast as a growth driver, saying the daypart grew about 6% in the prior year and that the company plans to invest in innovation for breakfast, including beverages menus. Tanner has emphasized the company's use of fresh, never-frozen beef as a differentiator and discussed technology initiatives, including an AI-powered drive-thru system called "Fresh AI" that is being scaled from 100 to 500 locations in 2025. He described the company's value offering, the "Biggie bag," as "tremendous value through the lens of quality." In interviews, Tanner also shared personal leadership philosophies, stating that he believes in a "fail forward" culture and that mentors are his greatest resource. He named Abraham Lincoln as a historical figure he admires, and said his favorite restaurant besides Wendy's is a Cameron Mitchell restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.