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Arby’s Chief Marketing Officer Russ Klein to Depart

By: Arby's |  22 Shares     214 Reads

Significant Contributor to Improving Financial Performance, Driving Same-Store Sales Growth and Successful New Product Introductions National Search Underway To Find Replacement

ATLANTA (June 3, 2013) – Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. announces that its Chief Marketing Officer, Russ Klein, has decided to depart the Company.

“We are very grateful to Russ for his tremendous contributions to Arby’s strong performance and growth,” said Jon Luther, Chairman of Arby’s Restaurant Group. “Since joining us early last year, Russ led the revitalization of our marketing program and contributed to excellent business results. In my over 30 years in this business, Russ stands among the best CMOs I’ve ever worked with. We wish him every success in his future endeavors and would work with him again in a minute.”

“I am very proud of the incredible work we’ve done,” said Klein. “Today, Arby’s has a deep pipeline of products backed by creative advertising that’s been driving sales at the store level. With these building blocks firmly in place, I am excited about what the future holds in store – both for Arby’s and myself.”

Klein added, “I am very grateful for the faith that Roark Capital and Jon Luther placed in me to lead marketing for this great, iconic brand.”

Klein played a leading role in developing numerous market-tested products that are ready for launch. Under his leadership, Arby’s Open Innovation System has produced a large number of qualified new products, including two sandwiches that have received all-time high ratings among consumers for the company.

Klein also led the development of Arby’s highly-effective brand positioning as well as advertising campaigns that exceed industry norms and have contributed to ten consecutive quarters of same-store sales growth – one of the longest such streaks in Arby’s history.

Klein has a 25-year track record of marketing management, brand turnarounds and value creation at Burger King, 7-Eleven, Dr Pepper, 7-Up and other brands.

Over the course of his career, Klein has launched new brands, repositioned existing brands and brought “talked about” ideas to the marketplace. He has been publicly acknowledged by numerous “Top Marketer” lists spanning three decades, including “Top 100 Marketer” by Advertising Age and “Marketer of the Year” twice by Brand Week. Klein was also an early pioneer in social and digital media, earning “Digital Campaign of the Decade” from Ad Age and “Campaign of the Year” from The Wall Street Journal.

Klein is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and received his bachelor of science in business administration from The Ohio State University.

About Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.

Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. is the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. with more than 3,400 restaurants system wide. In addition to its classic Roast Beef and Beef ‘n Cheddar sandwiches, slow-roasted and thinly sliced in store daily, Arby’s is also known for its deli-style Market Fresh® line of sandwiches and salads, Curly Fries and Jamocha Shakes. In 2011, Arby’s introduced Ultimate Angus, a premium, 100 percent Black Angus beef featured in freshly prepared sandwiches. In 2012, Arby’s launched a line of premium turkey sandwiches called Hot Turkey Roasters. To learn more about Arby’s, please visit www.Arbys.com.

About Roark Capital Group

Roark Capital Group is an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in franchise/multi-unit, brand management, consumer products and services, environmental services and business services companies with attractive growth prospects. Its brands have over 11,000 locations and $10 billion in system-wide revenues across 50 states and 60 countries. Roark focuses on middle-market investment opportunities through family-owned business transfers, management and corporate buyouts, recapitalizations, going-private transactions and corporate divestitures. The firm has approximately $3 billion of equity capital under management. For more information, visit www.roarkcapital.com

SOURCE Arby's

Media Contacts:

Jo Ann Herold
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
jherold@arbys.com

Jason Rollins
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
678-514-4219
jrollins@arbys.com

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