Wendy’s plans new operations role as Suerken prepares QSCC return

The Wendy’s Company plans to eliminate its U.S. president position and recruit a chief operations officer as Pete Suerken prepares to return to the system’s independent purchasing cooperative.

An August 17 filing says Suerken gave notice on August 14 and is expected to depart August 31 to lead Quality Supply Chain Co-op, Inc., or QSCC. Wendy’s is recruiting for the new operations role, which will report to its president and CEO. Wendy’s leadership filing

The company links the change to restructuring and reorganization work under evaluation. It has disclosed a reporting line, but no detailed mandate or selected candidate for the new position.

The transition terms include prorated accelerated vesting of 80,481 restricted stock units and a prorated 2026 cash incentive based on actual company performance. Other outstanding equity will be forfeited. Those terms concern the departing executive, with no compensation package disclosed for the future operations chief.

A return to the cooperative after a year at Wendy’s#

Wendy’s appointed Suerken U.S. president effective July 22, 2025, with Abigail Pringle set to depart following a transition. The announcement placed him on its senior leadership team, reporting to then-interim CEO Ken Cook. Cook identified restaurant profitability, growth and customer experience as priorities for the U.S. business. The original appointment announcement

Suerken already knew the franchise system through his leadership of QSCC. Wendy’s also cited his work at packaging and materials provider Resin Technology and 13 years at Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, the Yum! Brands cooperative.

At the announcement, Pringle had spent 23 years with Wendy’s. Cook credited her with restaurant development, the Image Activation remodeling program, the modern restaurant image and work on the international business. The 2025 succession therefore combined an incoming purchasing executive with a transition from a leader whose experience included development and international operations.

What QSCC manages and how members fund it#

Wendy’s April 2 proxy statement describes QSCC as managing nearly $4 billion in contracts for the U.S. and Canadian system. The contracts cover the purchase and distribution of food, proprietary paper, operating supplies and equipment. The proxy also listed Suerken as a member of the cooperative’s board. The 2026 proxy statement, page 84

The proxy dates his previous QSCC presidency from January 2021 to July 2025. It also identifies a specific procurement role at Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions: executive vice president for food and packaging procurement from February 2016 to February 2017.

Wendy’s annual filing explains the cooperative’s commercial structure. QSCC typically negotiates national agreements with prices based on total system volume. It manages supply continuity and monitors potential obsolete inventory, connecting contract negotiations with the availability of products restaurants need. The 2025 Form 10-K, pages 7–8

Wendy’s and franchisees pay sourcing fees to third-party vendors on certain QSCC-sourced products. Vendors remit those fees to the cooperative, providing its primary operating funding. If the fees exceed expected needs, QSCC’s board may return some or all of the excess through a patronage dividend.

Those arrangements describe an established purchasing organization with its own funding and member relationship. Suerken’s planned return changes its leadership, while the newly created Wendy’s operations position remains unfilled at the August 17 cutoff.