Beloved chicken chain Zaxby’s® has hired former Dollar General Senior Vice President Donny Lau as its new chief financial officer. Having also assumed the roles of both finance and chief strategy officer at Dollar General, Lau brings with him 20 years of industry experience with other storied companies, including Yum! Brands.
In his new role at Zaxby’s, Lau is tasked with spearheading accounting, treasury, and financial strategy along with analytics and planning. He assumes the role at an exciting time for the brand, as Zaxby’s franchising network continues to grow, and the saucy chicken joint experiments with new restaurant models, including to-go-only locations and new menu items, such as the limited-time-only Classic Funnel Cake with Caramel Sauce.
In announcing his arrival, Zaxby’s CEO Bernard Acoca said, “Donny’s proven track record in driving financial growth in [quick-service restaurants] and retail organizations, implementing effective strategies, and navigating complex financial landscapes makes him a perfect fit for Zaxby’s as we embark on our next phase of growth and expansion.” Furthermore, he noted, “I am confident that his expertise and leadership will further elevate our organization’s financial performance and position us for continued success.”
Ready for the Challenge
With more than 940 Zaxby’s franchise and company-owned locations across the United States, the brand is positioned to become the country’s most prominent fast-casual chicken chain. Luckily, Lau — with an MBA in finance and strategy from Vanderbilt University — is more than ready to support that kind of growth. After all, his most recent experience involved overseeing Dollar General’s more than 19,000 company-owned stores nationwide.
While Lau was overseeing financial strategy and planning, investor relations, corporate development, and more, Dollar General brought in $38 billion worth of annual revenue. And prior to joining Dollar General, Lau’s tenure at Yum! Brands saw him handle many of the same financial responsibilities in addition to mergers and acquisitions, transitioning the brand’s China spinoff into a publicly traded company, and crafting new refranchising strategies in the wake of that public rollout.
In discussing his move into the world of Chicken Fingerz™ and Zax Sauce®, Lau said, “I am very excited to join Zaxby’s and work alongside this talented team, including our team members and franchisees, to drive the next chapter of growth.” As he envisions the chicken chain’s future, he added, “I look forward to helping build on the company’s strong foundation and positive momentum as we continue to capitalize on growth opportunities we see ahead while delivering meaningful value creation for all stakeholders.”
A Foundation of Strength
With more than 30 years of experience serving the best Chicken Fingerz, chicken sandwiches, sauces, Zalads®, and more — all with a side of Southern hospitality — Zaxby’s already has an army of devoted fans. (That fact is made clear by the chain’s 39th-place honor on Nation’s Restaurant News’ Top 500 Restaurants list for 2023.)
While the Athens, Georgia-headquartered brand has traditionally served the Southeastern United States, you can currently find Zaxby’s locations in 19 states, including new Zaxby’s franchises in Utah and Alaska. With many more states eager to get their hands on some kicking chicken, Lau is joining the Zaxby’s team at a time that’s ripe for brand expansion.