Yum! Brands, headquartered in Louisville, has announced that Scott Mezvinsky will be taking over as the new CEO of KFC starting March 1.

At 49 years old, Mezvinsky has two decades of experience with the company, currently serving as President for Taco Bell in North America and internationally. He will replace Sabir Sami, who is resigning as KFC CEO at the end of February 2025, as per the recent announcement.

In this role, Mezvinsky will be responsible for enhancing the global branding and performance of KFC.

“Scott is highly regarded at Yum! Brands, bringing over 20 years of diverse experience in operations, strategy, finance, and development, along with a proven history of achieving significant results,” said Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs. “In his latest position as President of Taco Bell North America and International, Scott has driven Taco Bell’s signature bold innovations and ensured exceptional experiences for both global teams and customers. He is the ideal candidate to steer KFC’s long-term growth strategies in collaboration with our franchise partners.”

Mezvinsky has also held the position of Global Chief Strategy & Financial Officer at Taco Bell, overseeing finance, development, and strategy to support the brand’s aim of reaching $20 billion, in addition to positions like General Manager for KFC Iberia and roles in the KFC Latin America and Caribbean regions.

“It is a great privilege to lead a renowned brand like KFC and collaborate with skilled and committed leaders and franchise partners across the globe,” Mezvinsky stated.

Sami has been at the helm of the KFC Division since January 2022 and has served in various executive roles with Yum! Brands since 2009.

“I want to express my gratitude to Sabir for his years of dedication and service to Yum! Brands and KFC, and for the significant contributions he has made to our business,” Gibbs stated. “He is a respected leader within our company and the industry, with a focus on strategic brand development and operations that has elevated KFC’s presence worldwide. We wish him all the best as he enjoys this new chapter with his family.”

Contact food and dining reporter Amanda Hancock at ahancock@courier-journal.com.