Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> April 1, 2003
FRANK J. BELATTI is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AFC
Enterprises', inc.,(AFC'). Mr. Belatti's concise values, vision
and track record in hospitality and restaurant franchising
resulted in his appointment as chairman and chief executive
officer of the newly formed corporation, AFC Enterprises, in
1992. Under his leadership, AFC has employed an aggressive
worldwide expansion strategy since its inception. As a result,
the company has more than doubled its system sales, increased its
commitments for future development seven fold, doubled its number
of restaurants, bakeries and cafs to over 4,000 and
significantly improved its profitability, cash flow and balance
sheet. Mr. Belatti's leadership traits and communication skills
are one of the keys to his long history of success. Prior to
joining AFC, he served as the President/COO for Hospitality
Franchise Systems, (now Cendant Corporation). In this role, he
led HFS through the merger of Howard Johnson and Ramada Franchise
Systems with Days Inn of America, transforming HFS into the
largest hotel franchising company in the world. Mr. Belatti also
served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Arby's.
Winning numerous awards and industry recognition, Mr. Belatti is
an honoree of the Anti-Defamation League's 2001 Torch of Liberty
Award and received the Ernst & Young 2000 Entrepreneur of the
Year Award, the 1999 Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the
International Franchise Association (IFA) and the 1999
Trailblazer Award from the Women's Foodservice Forum (WFF). He is
on the Board of Directors at RadioShack Corporation and Galyan's
Trading Company, Inc. and is on the Executive Steering Committee
for Habitat for Humanity International. Mr. Belatti received his
Bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his MBA
from Fordham University in New York. Profile
going on over the past year or so that the investor should focus
on?
Mr. Belatti: We have been diligently pursuing the business
