Full Name
J David Karam
Job Title
Chief Executive Officer
Company Name
Sbarro
Speaker Bio
"J. David Karam is the Chief Executive Officer of Sbarro, the leading QSR chain serving the impulse pizza occasion. Mr. Karam joined Sbarro when he was appointed Chairman of
the Board in January of 2012 and assumed the additional duties of CEO in March of 2013.
Before joining Sbarro, Mr. Karam was the President of Wendy’s International from 2008 to 2011. During his tenure at Wendy’s, Karam led a successful turnaround, which
included significant improvements in product quality, operational execution and brand profitability. Under his leadership, Wendy’s rose to become the second largest QSR
Hamburger chain in the U.S., surpassing Burger King for the first time in the company’s 42-year history. In 2011, Karam was inducted into Wendy’s Hall of Fame.
Prior to joining Wendy’s in 2008, Mr. Karam was president of Cedar Enterprises, one of the largest franchisees in the Wendy’s system. While President of Cedar Enterprises,
the company was awarded the R. David Thomas Founders Award, the Diamond Award for National Marketer of the Year and numerous other recognitions. He joined Cedar
Enterprises in 1986 as Vice President of Finance before being promoted to President in 1989. Mr. Karam previously served as senior auditor for Touche & Ross from 1982 to
1986.
Karam is a CPA and holds a B.S. in Accounting from The Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Owner President Management program at the Harvard University
Graduate School of Business Administration. He serves on the Board of Directors for Henny Penny Corporation, the Pontifical College Josephinum and ALSAC, the fundraising
arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital."
the Board in January of 2012 and assumed the additional duties of CEO in March of 2013.
Before joining Sbarro, Mr. Karam was the President of Wendy’s International from 2008 to 2011. During his tenure at Wendy’s, Karam led a successful turnaround, which
included significant improvements in product quality, operational execution and brand profitability. Under his leadership, Wendy’s rose to become the second largest QSR
Hamburger chain in the U.S., surpassing Burger King for the first time in the company’s 42-year history. In 2011, Karam was inducted into Wendy’s Hall of Fame.
Prior to joining Wendy’s in 2008, Mr. Karam was president of Cedar Enterprises, one of the largest franchisees in the Wendy’s system. While President of Cedar Enterprises,
the company was awarded the R. David Thomas Founders Award, the Diamond Award for National Marketer of the Year and numerous other recognitions. He joined Cedar
Enterprises in 1986 as Vice President of Finance before being promoted to President in 1989. Mr. Karam previously served as senior auditor for Touche & Ross from 1982 to
1986.
Karam is a CPA and holds a B.S. in Accounting from The Ohio State University and is a graduate of the Owner President Management program at the Harvard University
Graduate School of Business Administration. He serves on the Board of Directors for Henny Penny Corporation, the Pontifical College Josephinum and ALSAC, the fundraising
arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital."
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