Pete Suerken serves as President, U.S. at Wendy's, where he leads the company's domestic operations, driving strategic growth, menu innovation, and customer experience enhancements across more than 6,000 restaurants. With over 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Suerken joined Wendy's in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Company Operations. His prior roles included key leadership positions at Arby's Restaurant Group, where he oversaw operations and franchise development, and at Darden Restaurants, managing multi-unit operations for brands like Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse. His expertise in operational efficiency and team leadership quickly propelled him through the ranks at Wendy's. In 2020, Suerken was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, during which he spearheaded initiatives that boosted same-store sales, expanded digital ordering capabilities, and navigated the company through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his guidance, Wendy's achieved record digital sales penetration and implemented data-driven strategies to optimize supply chain and labor management, contributing to sustained profitability and franchisee satisfaction. His efforts earned him recognition as a top executive in quick-service restaurants. As President, U.S., Suerken continues to champion Wendy's "Fresh, Never Frozen" beef positioning while accelerating growth through remodels, new restaurant openings, and technology integrations like AI-driven drive-thrus. Passionate about fostering a culture of urgency and guest obsession, he plays a pivotal role in positioning Wendy's for long-term market leadership in the competitive fast-food landscape.