Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, the fast-food chain known for its spicy chicken, is betting on a seasoned marketing executive to drive sales and attract new customers. The company announced today that Bart LaCount, a veteran of PepsiCo, will take the helm as Chief Marketing Officer for the United States and Canada.
Pivotal time for Popeyes
LaCount joins Popeyes at a pivotal time. The chain, owned by Restaurant Brands International (RBI), has been investing heavily in its business, revamping kitchens, simplifying digital ordering, and expanding its chicken wing offerings. Popeyes wants to become a dominant player in the highly competitive chicken market, which has seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
As LaCount takes the reins, he will be tasked with developing innovative marketing campaigns to increase brand awareness, drive customer traffic, and ultimately boost sales. The chicken chain will be looking to build on the momentum generated by its recent Super Bowl ad and “Bring Back Lunch” campaign.
“Well-rounded marketing background”
LaCount joins the organization from PepsiCo where he was Vice President of International Beverages Marketing leading hydration and energy portfolios for international markets including Gatorade and Sting. He joins Popeyes with more than 20 years of experience, spending the majority of his career in various leadership roles in marketing at PepsiCo, and prior to that, Ford Motor Company. His expertise in building and maintaining strong consumer connections is expected to be instrumental in driving Popeyes’ growth.
“We are excited to welcome Bart to the Popeyes Family,” said Jeff Klein, President of Popeyes North America. “Bart brings an incredibly well-rounded marketing background to this role as we look to deepen brand relevance in communities where we are loved and expand relevance where Popeyes should be better known – all as part of the strategic plan built with and endorsed by our franchisees.” said Klein.”
LaCount’s appointment coincides with the promotion of Matt Rubin to Chief Digital Officer for Popeyes US and Canada. Rubin will oversee the brand’s digital strategy, focusing on enhancing the customer experience and driving digital growth.
