Popeyes CEO to Step Down After Merger

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc. CEO Cheryl Bachelder will step aside when the fried chicken chain is sold to Restaurant Brands International Inc. for $1.8 billion. Bachelder is one of metro Atlanta’s few female CEOs.

Bachelder joined Popeyes in 2006 as a member of the company's board of directors. In November 2007, she was named CEO and is credited with heading a transformation of the company. The brand has become a global presence with nearly 2,700 restaurants in 26 countries, with top-line restaurant sales up 45 percent and bottom-line restaurant operating profit more than doubled.

“Cheryl created a collaborative culture among franchisees and the Restaurant Support Team," said Howard Mangen, president of the Popeyes International Franchisee Association. "It’s been a true partnership that turned out to be the secret to success for Popeyes.”