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Pakistan's Sabir Sami takes over as KFC's new CEO

Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years and has held a number of positions, including General...
Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years and has held a number of positions, including General Manager of KFC restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa. File Photo
Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years and has held a number of positions, including General Manager of KFC restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa. File Photo

Yum Brands announced Wednesday the promotion of Sabir Sami to KFC Division CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2022.

Sami, 54, who currently serves as KFC Division Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director of KFC Asia, will succeed Tony Lowings, who is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2021 in advance of his retirement in early 2022. In this role, Sami will assume global responsibility for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC.

Sami has been with Yum Brands for 12 years and has held a number of positions, including General Manager of KFC restaurants in the Middle East and North Africa. He has held his current role of the brand’s Global COO/Asia Managing Director since Jan. 2020, where he helps oversee 17 markets in the area.

“Sabir is an exceptional leader with deep expertise and knowledge of our business and has a strong, proven track record of growing KFC’s physical and brand presence in markets around the world,” said Gibbs. “As a highly-respected strategic brand builder, operations expert and heart-led leader, Sabir is a natural choice to continue successfully executing KFC’s long-term global growth strategies in close partnership with our franchisees and further elevate KFC as a relevant, easy and distinctive (R.E.D.) brand.”

In his new role, Sami will be responsible for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC around the globe.

“I’m incredibly privileged and excited to continue working with our talented and dedicated KFC leaders and amazing franchise partners around the world to keep strengthening and accelerating the development of our powerful, iconic brand,” said Sami. “KFC is uniquely positioned around the world as a well-loved, well-trusted brand with millions of fans – the future is certainly bright.”

Dyke Shipp, 55, who currently serves as KFC Division Chief Development Officer and Chief People Officer, is being promoted to KFC Division President, reporting to Sami, effective January 1, 2022. Shipp brings over 30 years of experience with the Company and expertise successfully leading KFC’s development and people and culture strategies. In this role, Shipp will partner with Sami on KFC’s global people and growth agenda and support the General Managers of its businesses in the Americas, including Canada, the U.S. and Latin America and the Caribbean.

Lowings will remain KFC Division CEO through the end of the year as the team transitions to new leadership. He will remain with Yum Brands in a different transitional position in the first quarter of 2022.

“I want to thank Tony, a trusted colleague and dear friend to many, for his decades of service, commitment to excellence and significant contributions to our business,” said Yum! Brands Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs. “Tony’s unwavering focus on ensuring restaurant excellence, building a R.E.D., Always Original brand and winning on KFC’s delicious taste and quality will leave a long and lasting imprint on our company. While we will miss Tony, we wish him well as he enjoys this new phase of life with his family.”

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