Important Update: Kirk Tanner stepped down as President & CEO of The Wendy’s Company on July 18, 2025, to become President & CEO of The Hershey Company. Ken Cook, Wendy’s Chief Financial Officer, was appointed Interim CEO while the Board conducts a search for a permanent successor.
Kirk Tanner served as President & CEO of The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) from February 5, 2024 to July 18, 2025. A 30-year PepsiCo veteran, Tanner most recently served as CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, overseeing a $28 billion business. He was recruited to Wendy’s to accelerate international growth and digital innovation, but after roughly 18 months he departed to lead The Hershey Company. Tanner began his new role as Hershey CEO on August 18, 2025.
Read on to discover Kirk Tanner’s net worth in 2026, salary and compensation at Wendy’s, career history, education, personal life, and contact information.
Kirk Tanner – Quick Facts
| Kirk Tanner — Key Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kirk C. Tanner |
| Age | ~56 (born c. 1969–1970) |
| Current Position | President & CEO, The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) — since Aug 18, 2025 |
| Former Position | President & CEO, The Wendy’s Company (Nasdaq: WEN) — Feb 2024 to Jul 2025 |
| Previous Role | CEO, PepsiCo Beverages North America (2019–2024) |
| Education | B.S. Accounting, University of Utah (David Eccles School of Business), 1992 |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $26 million+ |
| Total Comp at Wendy’s (2024) | ~$17.3 million |
| Headquarters | Hershey, Pennsylvania (current); formerly Dublin, Ohio |
| Email Domain | @wendys.com (former); @hersheys.com (current) |
Career Highlights
- 30+ years at PepsiCo (1992–2024): Rose from sales associate at Frito-Lay to CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, overseeing a $28 billion division with brands including Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, and bubly.
- Wendy’s CEO (Feb 2024 – Jul 2025): Led the fast-food chain through its 14th consecutive year of same-restaurant sales growth. Oversaw $14.5 billion in global systemwide sales.
- Hershey CEO (Aug 2025 – present): Recruited to lead The Hershey Company, succeeding Michele Buck after her seven-year tenure.
- VF Corporation Board: Served on the board of VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC), adding public company governance experience.
- Operations & supply chain expertise: Known for an execution-first leadership style rooted in his operations background at Frito-Lay and PepsiCo Beverages.
Kirk Tanner Career Timeline
| Period | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Sales Associate (Frito-Lay) | PepsiCo |
| 2000–2013 | Various Regional VP Roles, Frito-Lay North America | PepsiCo |
| 2015–2016 | COO, North America Beverages & President, Global Foodservice | PepsiCo |
| 2016–2018 | President & COO, North America Beverages | PepsiCo |
| 2019–2024 | CEO, PepsiCo Beverages North America ($28B division) | PepsiCo |
| Feb 2024 – Jul 2025 | President & CEO | The Wendy’s Company |
| Aug 2025 – present | President & CEO | The Hershey Company |
Kirk Tanner Net Worth & Salary
As of early 2026, Kirk Tanner’s estimated net worth is approximately $26 million or more, based on SEC filings and disclosed stock holdings. He owns approximately 47,860 shares of The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) as of November 2025, valued at roughly $11 million. His remaining wealth comes from decades of executive compensation at PepsiCo and equity accumulated during his tenure at Wendy’s.
Kirk Tanner Compensation at Wendy’s (2024)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $901,370 | 5.2% |
| Annual Bonus | $1,237,250 | 7.2% |
| Stock Options | $1,499,997 | 8.7% |
| Stock Awards | $13,499,964 | 78.0% |
| Other Compensation | $169,536 | 1.0% |
| TOTAL | $17,308,117 | 100% |
Key Insight: Over 94.8% of Kirk Tanner’s compensation at Wendy’s was performance-based (bonus + equity), with only 5.2% from base salary. His employment agreement provided a base salary of $1 million/year with an annual bonus target of 175% of base salary.
Kirk Tanner Compensation at Hershey (2025–2026)
At The Hershey Company, Tanner’s compensation package is significantly higher. His employment agreement includes a base salary of $1.25 million, annual cash incentive targeted at 180% of base salary, and annual equity-based awards of up to $9 million. He also received sign-on grants of $7 million in restricted stock units and $4 million in performance stock units. His total first-year compensation is expected to exceed $17 million.
The Wendy’s Company Financial Summary
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2023 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenues | $2.2B | $2.2B | ▲ 2.0% (adj.) |
| Net Income | $194.4M | — | — |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $543.6M | — | ▲ 1.4% |
| Global Systemwide Sales | $14.5B | — | ▲ 3.1% |
| Adjusted EPS | $1.00 | $0.97 | ▲ 3.1% |
| Same-Restaurant Sales Growth | 14th consecutive year | — | — |
| Number of Restaurants | 7,000+ | — | — |
| Stock Ticker | Nasdaq: WEN | ||
Capital Allocation: In 2024, Wendy’s announced a new target dividend payout ratio of 50–60% of adjusted earnings and plans to repurchase up to $2 billion of shares, signaling confidence in the company’s long-term cash flow generation.
Kirk Tanner Education & Early Life
Kirk Tanner earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business in 1992. His background in accounting gave him a strong analytical foundation that he carried into his operations-focused career at PepsiCo. Tanner grew up in Colorado and Utah before launching his career at Frito-Lay immediately after graduation.
His accounting and operations background is relatively unusual among food industry CEOs, who more commonly come from marketing or finance tracks. Tanner’s supply chain and operational expertise became his signature strength, driving efficiency improvements across every business he led.
Kirk Tanner Personal Life
Kirk Tanner is a private individual when it comes to his personal life. He has been married for over 34 years and has two children. Outside of work, Tanner enjoys outdoor activities including golfing, mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with his family. He relocated from the PepsiCo orbit to Dublin, Ohio when he joined Wendy’s in 2024, and subsequently moved to the Hershey, Pennsylvania area upon joining The Hershey Company in 2025.
How to Contact Kirk Tanner
Kirk Tanner is now the CEO of The Hershey Company. For Wendy’s-related inquiries, contact the current interim CEO Ken Cook.
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Wendy’s HQ (former) | One Dave Thomas Blvd, Dublin, OH 43017 • Phone: (614) 764-3100 |
| Wendy’s Email Domain | @wendys.com (format: [email protected]) |
| Wendy’s Investor Relations | [email protected] |
| Hershey HQ (current) | 19 East Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033 • Phone: (717) 534-4200 |
| Hershey Email Domain | @hersheys.com |
| Kirk Tanner – CEO, The Hershey Company | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of Wendy’s in 2026?
As of March 2026, Ken Cook serves as Interim CEO of The Wendy’s Company. Kirk Tanner, who was President & CEO from February 2024, resigned in July 2025 to become CEO of The Hershey Company. Wendy’s Board of Directors is conducting a search for a permanent CEO.
Why did Kirk Tanner leave Wendy’s?
Kirk Tanner departed Wendy’s on July 18, 2025 to become President & CEO of The Hershey Company, succeeding retiring CEO Michele Buck. His move to Hershey came with a significantly enhanced compensation package, including a 180% annual bonus target and substantial equity grants.
What is Kirk Tanner’s net worth?
Kirk Tanner’s estimated net worth is approximately $26 million or more as of early 2026, based on disclosed stock holdings in Hershey (approximately $11 million) and wealth accumulated over 30+ years at PepsiCo and his tenure at Wendy’s.
What is Kirk Tanner’s salary?
At Wendy’s, Tanner’s total compensation for 2024 was approximately $17.3 million. At Hershey, his first-year compensation is expected to exceed $17 million, with a base salary of $1.25 million and annual equity awards up to $9 million.
Where did Kirk Tanner go to college?
Tanner earned a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Utah’s David Eccles School of Business in 1992.
What did Kirk Tanner do before Wendy’s?
Tanner spent over 30 years at PepsiCo, most recently as CEO of PepsiCo Beverages North America, a $28 billion division overseeing brands including Pepsi, Gatorade, Mountain Dew, and bubly.
Article last updated: March 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.