Restaurants
10 CHROs in Restaurants
These ten executives currently hold the top HR title at restaurant companies, most as chief people officer and one as chief human resources officer. A reader can learn how CHROs lead people teams in restaurant companies.
Professionals to explore
01—10Davide Sanzi
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · McDonald's
Chief People Officer at McDonald's since January 2026; the profile describes McDonald's as a restaurants company. Other listed roles are General Manager at Soul-K (2023–2026) and, at Esselunga, Human Resources and Organization Director (CHRO) (2022–2023), Innovation Director (CINO) (2021–2023) and Operations Director (COO) (2018–2021).
Heather Becker, SPHR, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Chief People & Culture Officer, KFC US · KFC US
Chief People & Culture Officer, KFC US at KFC US since May 2024, a role the profile tags as Human Resources at C-Level; the profile describes KFC US as a restaurants company. Former Vice President, Field & Franchise HR (2022–2024) and Sr Director, Field & Franchise HR (2021–2022) at Taco Bell, and Director of Talent, Dollar Tree Family Dollar (2017–2020) and Director of Human Resources, North Central (2015–2017) at Dollar Tree Stores.
Heather Kane Haberer
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Panda Restaurant Group
Chief People Officer at Panda Restaurant Group since June 2025; the profile describes Panda Restaurant Group as a restaurants company. Listed roles at Walmart include Vice President, Field People Operations (2020–2023), Sr. Director for HR - Southeast Business Unit (2019–2020) and Regional HR Director (2017–2019).
Humera Kassem
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Red Robin
Chief People Officer at Red Robin since September 2025; the profile describes Red Robin as a restaurants company and a family-friendly burger restaurant. Former Chief People Officer at Dave & Buster's Inc. (2023–2025), Chief Human Resources Officer at Jamba (2017–2019) and Chief People Officer at Good Smoke Restaurant Group (2016–2017), plus Executive Human Resources Consultant at Kassem Consulting, LLC (2019–2023).
Jeffrey Housman
LinkedInExperience: Chief Human Resources Officer · Restaurant Brands International
Chief Human Resources Officer at Restaurant Brands International since February 2017 and Chief People & Services Officer there since January 2019, both listed as current. Head of Global Business Services at Restaurant Brands International (2016–2017), Vice President, Global Business Services at Burger King (2014–2015) and Sr. Director, North America Finance and Real Estate at Burger King (2014).
Laura Sorensen
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · First Watch Restaurants
Chief People Officer at First Watch Restaurants since September 2016; the profile describes First Watch Restaurants as a restaurants company. At Darden the listed roles are Senior Vice President, Human Resources - LongHorn Steakhouse (2014–2016), Vice President of Human Resources (2013–2014) and Sr. Director, Human Resources (2010–2013). Director of Human Resources at Chico's FAS, Inc. (2003–2010).
MaryBeth Boehnlein
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer, Yum Corporate · Yum! Brands
Chief People Officer, Yum Corporate at Yum! Brands since November 2024; the profile describes Yum! Brands as a restaurants company operating KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Other Yum! Brands roles include Vice President Human Resources (2024), Senior Director Talent Management and Corporate Services (2023–2024), Director, Talent Management (2021–2023) and Senior Manager Global Talent & Head of Yum Brands Talent Acquisition (2019–2021).
Megan Verret
LinkedInExperience: Global Chief People Officer · KFC
Global Chief People Officer at KFC since September 2024; the profile describes KFC as a restaurants company and a fast food restaurant chain. At Yum! Brands the listed roles include Vice President Global Talent (2018–2021), Sr. Director, Organizational Development (2013–2017) and Director, People Development (2011–2012). The headline names talent management as a focus.
Namrata Tiwari
LinkedInExperience: Group Chief People Officer · Restaurant Brands Asia
Group Chief People Officer at Restaurant Brands Asia since June 2022, a role the profile tags as Human Resources at C-Level. Head of Human Resources at Burger King India (2014–2022), Head - HR Operations and Resourcing at Kaya Limited (2008–2014) and HR Manager at Pfizer (2007–2008).
Shauna Sanson
LinkedInExperience: Chief People Officer · Levy Restaurants
Chief People Officer at Levy Restaurants since December 2022, where the profile describes the role as leader of People & Culture for Levy, an independent operating company. Executive Vice President, People & Culture at Levy Restaurants (2018–2022), and Vice President, Human Resources at Boston Bruins and at TD Garden (2012–2018).
Choose the right perspective
Match the operating model to yours, since a global brand owner, a regional restaurant group and a single-brand chain face different people questions. If your question concerns a specific area such as talent management or field HR, favor someone whose other listed titles name that area.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you structure HR between the corporate office and the restaurants, and what do field HR teams own?
- 02What has worked for you in recruiting and keeping restaurant managers, and how do you measure it?
- 03Which people programs did you change first when you took over HR at a restaurant company, and why?
Reaching CHROs in Restaurants
How can I contact one of these CHROs in Restaurants?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including McDonald's, KFC US and Panda Restaurant Group, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach CHROs in Restaurants?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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