• by Teresa Buyikian , August 12, 2024

The purveyor of the chicken sandwich craze has some new leadership.

Today Popeye’s announced the appointment of Bart LaCount as its new CMO of Popeyes U.S. & Canada. The brand has also tapped Matt Rubin as chief digital officer in the U..S & Canada.

LaCount’s hire follows the recent promotion of previous CMO Jeff Klein to president. LaCount will head all marketing efforts for the chicken chain, with a focus on increasing traffic and sales.

“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 in a release.

Most recently LaCount served as vice president of international beverages marketing for PepsiCo where he “led hydration and energy portfolios for international markets including Gatorade and Sting,” per the announcement. Prior to 20 years at PepsiCo, LaCount worked at Ford Motor Company.

Rubin has been with Restaurant Brands (Popeye’s parent) for over eight years, working in various domestic and international roles in marketing, development and digital functions. In his new position he will oversee the Popeyes digital and technology teams and guide digital growth.

“Matt is a proven leader at Popeyes with a track record of driving results. Matt is taking on this expanded role and will be able to innovate even more to create a modern digital ecosystem across Popeyes,” said Klein.