Chick-fil-A Inc. has made a number of top management changes in its finance, marketing and human resource departments, which company officials described as passing the torch to a new generation of leadership.
Brent Ragsdale, former vice president and chief accounting officer for the Atlanta-based quick-service operator, has been named chief financial officer, replacing Buck McCabe, who will remain on the executive committee in an advisory role until he retires at the end of the year.
Ragsdale first started working for Chick-fil-A in high school, and he became a franchisee consultant for the chain in 1990, later moving up through the ranks of the financial services department.
Jon Bridges has been promoted to chief marketing officer, replacing Steve Robinson, who has headed the marketing division for three decades and plans to retire at the end of 2015. Like McCabe, Robinson will also remain on the company’s executive committee through the end of 2015, the company said.
Bridges, who joined the Atlanta-based chain in 1992, served previously as the company’s chief information officer for 11 years, and was named vice president of customer experience about five years ago.
In addition, Andrew Cathy, a son of president and CEO Dan Cathy, was promoted to senior vice president and chief people officer, a newly created position.
A former Chick-fil-A restaurant operator, Andrew Cathy became a franchisee consultant on the West Coast and later moved to the Atlanta headquarters, where he served most recently as vice president of people.
In other moves, Lynn Chastain, who joined Chick-fil-A as a staff attorney in 1990, was promoted to the position of senior vice president and general counsel. Chastain has served as general counsel since August 2013.
Cliff Robinson has been named senior vice president of field operations. He also first worked for the restaurant chain in high school at his father’s restaurant. He then joined the chain in 1990 as a marketing consultant, later shifting to field operations. He served previously as vice president of field operations for six years.
The appointments were effective as of Jan. 1, the company said.
Chick-fil-A also noted that Bridges, Ragsdale, Chastain, Andrew Cathy and Cliff Robinson have joined the company’s executive committee. The five new members serve alongside Dan Cathy, executive vice president Donald “Bubba” Cathy, operations executive vice president Tim Tassopoulos, as well as former CMO Steve Robinson and former CFO McCabe.
“Longevity in leadership has always been one of our secret ingredients,” said Dan Cathy in a statement. “Chick-fil-A is in the rare and wonderful position of having senior leaders who helped grow this business with care and confidence. They have mentored a new generation of leaders, and I am especially grateful to Steve Robinson and Buck McCabe for their loyalty, wisdom and humble service.”
Dan Cathy said the retiring executives are passing the torch to a new generation of leadership “who are well-prepared to foster growth of a relevant brand in a changing world.
“They are individuals with character, fortitude and unparalleled business acumen,” he added. “Our best is yet to come.”
Chick-fil-A is a family-owned chain with more than 1,850 restaurants.
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