---
title: "Alisa Gmelich Named President of Hardee's"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/83612817-ff86-4859-8570-28f500eb414f
source: "QSR Magazine"
original_url: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/alisa-gmelich-named-president-of-hardees/
author: "Danny Klein"
category: "Burger"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Burger"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2026-10-07T15:08:22.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:42:29.609Z
image: https://www.qsrmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/HardeesPresident.jpg
---

# Alisa Gmelich Named President of Hardee's

**TL;DR:** Alisa Gmelich has been named President of Hardee's by CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., effective immediately. She will lead a system of over 1,400 restaurants in 31 states, focusing on growth, guest experience, and franchisee alignment.

*By Danny Klein, originally published in QSR Magazine on 2026-10-07. [Read the original](https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/alisa-gmelich-named-president-of-hardees/).*

## Story

CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. has named Alisa Gmelich President of Hardee’s, effective immediately. She reports to Chief Executive Officer Joe Guith and leads a system of more than 1,400 restaurants in 31 states, with a mandate to reignite growth, elevate the guest experience and strengthen franchisee alignment.

Gmelich most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market. She previously led Auntie Anne’s as Chief Brand Officer and Brand President, where she drove omnichannel sales and traffic growth and expanded the brand’s footprint with co-branded drive-thrus, resulting in record performance. Earlier in her career, she held senior marketing roles at IHOP, McDonald’s and Burger King.

“Alisa is exactly the leader Hardee’s needs right now,” said Joe Guith, Chief Executive Officer, CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. “She brings the experience and franchise focus to strengthen the brand, support our franchisees and deliver memorable guest experiences.”

“My first priority is building a strong partnership with our franchisees,” said Gmelich. “When we work as true partners, we will drive strong, immediate growth of a brand we can all be proud of.”

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- franchise growth (topic)
- QSR Magazine (publication)
- McDonald's (company)
- Burger King (company)
- leadership change (topic)
- Danny Klein (person)
- IHOP (company)
- Auntie Anne's (company)
- Hardee's (company)
- CKE Restaurants (company)
- brand management (topic)

---
Originally reported by Danny Klein, QSR Magazine (https://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/alisa-gmelich-named-president-of-hardees/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/83612817-ff86-4859-8570-28f500eb414f).