Andrew F. Puzder
Chief Executive Officer

Theodore Abajian
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

Richard Buxton
Executive Vice President,
Real Estate Development

Jeffrey P. Chasney
Executive Vice President,
Strategic Planning and
Chief Information Officer

John J. Dunion
Executive Vice President,
Supply Chain Management

Richard E. Fortman
Executive Vice President,
Carl’s Jr. Operations

Brad R. Haley
Executive Vice President,
Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. Marketing

E. Michael Murphy
President and Chief Legal Officer

Bob Starke
Executive Vice President,
Operations, Hardee’s

Click a team member’s name to view their individual bio.

ANDREW F. PUZDER,
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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Andrew F. Puzder was named chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants, Inc. in September 2000.

Puzder joined the Company in 1997 as executive vice president, general counsel, overseeing franchising at Carl’s Jr. and in 1998, began overseeing franchising at Hardee’s as well. In June 2000, he was appointed president and chief executive officer of Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. before moving on to his current position as president and CEO of the parent company.

Prior to joining CKE Restaurants, Inc., Puzder served as executive vice president, general counsel for Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and chief executive officer of Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc. He was formerly a partner with the law firm Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth. Puzder received his juris doctorate in 1978 from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis and is a member of the California, Nevada and Missouri Bar Associations.

Most recently, PR News and CommCore Consulting named Puzder 2005 Spokesperson of the Year for his work in representing the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's brands in television and radio.

THEODORE ABAJIAN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

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Theodore Abajian was appointed executive vice president and chief financial officer of CKE Restaurants, Inc. in April 2003. Mr. Abajian joined the Company as chief administrative officer in March 2002, following the completion of the acquisition of Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc.

Prior to the merger, Abajian served as president and chief executive officer of Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc. beginning in November 2000 and as executive vice president and chief financial officer from May 1998. From January 2000 to October 2000, Abajian held the position of senior vice president and chief financial officer for Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. Prior to joining Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc., Abajian served as chief financial officer of Star Buffet, Inc. since the company’s formation in July 1997.

Abajian holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Oregon in Eugene.

RICHARD BUXTON, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

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Richard Buxton was appointed executive vice president of real estate development of CKE Restaurants, Inc. in August of 2006. Buxton oversees real estate development for franchise- and company-operated Carl's Jr., Hardee's and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill restaurant locations.

Before joining CKE, Buxton represented World Savings Bank as senior vice president of corporate development, where he oversaw the management and expansion of the corporation's real estate assets. Prior to his service at World Savings Bank, Buxton built his experience over 20 years as a member of the McDonald's corporation in real estate and development. Before leaving McDonald's, he had led restaurant development as director of the Pacific Sierra region of the United States.

Buxton holds a bachelor's degree in real estate from Ohio State University.

JEFFREY P. CHASNEY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER

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Having joined CKE Restaurants, Inc. as senior vice president and chief information officer (CIO) in April 2000, Jeff Chasney was named executive vice president, strategic planning and chief information officer in October 2003. He is responsible for providing the Company with performance forecasting and strategic direction for using technology and information to enhance corporate profitability.

Before joining CKE Restaurants, Inc., Chasney was with Clark Refining and Marketing for four years as vice president and chief information officer. Additionally, Chasney has more than 13 years experience in the foodservice industry, having served as vice president and chief information officer at VICORP Restaurants, Inc. and Long John Silver’s, Inc.

Chasney received his bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics at Wayne State University in Detroit.

JOHN J. DUNION, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

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John J. Dunion was named executive vice president, supply chain management for CKE Restaurants, Inc. in July 2001.

Dunion joined the Company in 1996 as vice president, purchasing, and was promoted to senior vice president, purchasing in 1998. Prior to assuming his current position, Dunion served as executive vice president, chief administrative officer.

Before joining CKE Restaurants, Inc., Dunion was with Unigate Restaurants, Inc. where he served as director and then vice president of purchasing. He has also held purchasing and technical management positions with Jack in the Box restaurants and Taco Bell Corporation. A graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Dunion holds a bachelor’s degree in biology.

RICHARD E. FORTMAN, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,

CARL’S JR. operations

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Rick Fortman was named executive vice president, operations for Carl’s Jr. in September 2000. Before assuming this position, n was a senior area vice president for Hardee’s, a position he had held since April 1998.

Fortman first joined CKE Restaurants, Inc. in 1969 and has had a long career in Carl’s Jr. operations, beginning in the restaurants and advancing through the ranks to regional vice president. Fortman left the Company briefly from 1997 to 1998 to take the position of president and chief operating officer of Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., returning to the Company’s Hardee’s concept in 1998.

Fortman is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton.

BRAD R. HALEY, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT,

Hardee's and Carl's Jr. MARKETING

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Brad Haley was named executive vice president of marketing for Hardee’s in September of 2000 and added the responsibility for Carl’s Jr. marketing in January 2004. He leads all facets of marketing including brand positioning, advertising, product development, merchandising, sales analysis, marketing research, publicity, pricing and promotions.

Before joining Hardee’s, Haley was chief marketing officer for Church’s Chicken, and served as corporate vice president of marketing communications for Jack in the Box restaurants from 1992 to 1999. While at Jack in the Box, Haley received the Brand Builder Award from Brandweek magazine for his work to help orchestrate the chain’s turnaround following a devastating E. coli contaminated hamburger incident.

Haley received his bachelor’s degree in biology and master’s degree in business administration from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, Calif.

E. MICHAEL MURPHY, PRESIDENT AND CHIEF LEGAL OFFICER

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E. Michael Murphy was appointed President and Chief Legal Officer of CKE Restaurants, Inc. in January 2009. He previously served as Chief Administrative Officer from 2006; and was named executive vice president, general counsel and Secretary of the Company in July 2000. He still serves as Secretary of the Company.

In his current position, Murphy leads the legal, human resources, payroll and information technology departments, as well as oversees all franchising and international endeavors for both the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands.

Mr. Murphy started with the Company in July 1998 when he was named senior vice president and general counsel of Hardee’s. Prior to his association with the Company, Mr. Murphy was a partner in the litigation department at The Stolar Partnership, a law firm in St. Louis, Missouri. Murphy is currently a member of the American Bar Association and the Missouri Bar Association.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Missouri and his law degree from St. Louis University.

BOB STARKE, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
HARDEE’S OPERATIONS

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Bob Starke was named executive vice president of operations for Hardee’s company-operated restaurant locations in May 2007.

Starke first joined Hardee’s Food Systems in 1975 and has enjoyed a long career in Hardee’s operations, beginning in the restaurants and advancing through the ranks to regional vice president. He had served as senior vice president of restaurant operations since 2002 before being promoted to his current position.