LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Monica Rothgery has been named chief operating officer of KFC US. Rothgery succeeds Phil Klezmer, who recently retired from the role.

As COO, Rothgery will oversee operational strategy and execution to drive operations simplification, improved processes, new labor models and technology integration. Additionally, she will assume overall responsibility for leading franchise and equity field operations for KFC’s more than 4,100 restaurants across the country.

A 27-year veteran of KFC parent company Yum! Brands Inc., Rothgery was most recently chief restaurant productivity officer for KFC US. She joined Yum! Brands as a Taco Bell restaurant general manager in 1992. Rothgery spent 17 years in various human resources and operations roles with the US divisions, including director of human resources for Pizza Hut and director of people development for Taco Bell. Rothgery joined KFC Thailand in 2014, where she was chief operations and people officer for more than four years. She was appointed chief of restaurant productivity for KFC US in August 2018.

“In her nearly three decades with Yum! Brands, Monica has demonstrated outstanding operational leadership,” said Kevin Hochman, president of KFC US. “Her knowledge of the business, passion for people and ability to drive results make her the perfect choice to be our COO.”