ATHENS, GA. — Fast-casual chicken chain Zaxby’s appointed Donny Lau as the company’s chief financial officer, effective July 25. In his new role, Lau will lead the finance team in financial strategy, planning and analytics, accounting and treasury.
“Donny’s proven track record in driving financial growth in QSR and retail organizations, implementing effective strategies and navigating complex financial landscapes makes him a perfect fit for Zaxby’s as we embark on our next phase of growth and expansion,” said Bernard Acoca, chief executive officer at Zaxby’s. “I am confident that his expertise and leadership will further elevate our organization’s financial performance and position us for continued success.”
Most recently, Lau served as senior vice president, finance and chief strategy officer for Dollar General Corp. With over 19,000 company-owned stores, Dollar General generates $38 billion in annual revenue.
No stranger to the food industry, Lau has held various positions at Yum! Brands, where he assisted with mergers and acquisitions, FP&A, investor relations, corporate strategy and corporate planning. Lau was instrumental in leading the 2016 spin-off of Yum! China into a separate publicly traded company and the subsequent financial refranchising strategy to transform Yum! Brands into a capital-light pure-play franchisor.
Lau earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky and an MBA in finance and strategy from Vanderbilt University.
“I am very excited to join Zaxby’s and work alongside this talented team, including our team members and franchisees, to drive the next chapter of growth,” Lau said. “I look forward to helping build on the company’s strong foundation and positive momentum as we continue to capitalize on growth opportunities we see ahead, while delivering meaningful value creation for all stakeholders.”