CHICAGO, October 16, 2025 — Quality Supply Chain Co-Op (QSCC), the independent purchasing arm for the Wendy’s quick-service chain, has named Krista Pohlman CEO and president.
She had been serving in those roles on an interim basis since Pete Suerken vacated the positions this summer to become the U.S. president of Wendy’s International, the brand’s Ohio-based franchisor.
“Her forward-thinking approach will continue to strengthen the Co-op’s efficiency, ultimately benefiting Wendy’s business priorities,” Eddie Rodriguez, CEO of Wendy’s franchisee WenCo Restaurant Group and chairman of the QSCC.
Pohlman assumes her new roles on a permanent basis as Wendy’s embarks on Project Fresh, a comprehensive strategic initiative aiming to rejuvenate the brand and bolster the profitability of Wendy’s restaurants.
Pohlman has been involved with the Wendy’s brand since becoming a regional distribution manager for the franchisor in early 2008. She moved over to QSCC about two years later as a program manager, working her way up to EVP of Operations under Suerken in January 2025.
Wendy’s is searching for a permanent CEO since Kirk Tanner left in July to become CEO of The Hershey Co. Ken Cook, the franchisor’s CFO, is serving in that role on an interim basis.
Wendy’s is the nation’s second largest quick-service burger chain, behind McDonald’s, and the fifth largest restaurant chain overall. Its roughly 6,000 stores in the U.S. generated domestic systemwide sales in 2024 of $12.6 billion, according to the research firm Technomic.
QSCC is run by the chain’s franchisees independently from their franchisor.