Alisa Gmelich

Alisa Gmelich

 Photo: CKE

CKE Restaurants Holdings has appointed Alisa Gmelich president of Hardee's, effective immediately. Reporting to CEO Joe Guith, Gmelich will oversee more than 1,400 restaurants across 31 states, focusing on accelerating growth, improving the guest experience and strengthening franchisee partnerships, the company announced in a press release.

Gmelich is seemingly the first president of Hardee's since Christopher Bode left to join Denny's in September 2024. CKE has had significant turnover in top leadership over the last two years. Guith joined CKE in March 2025, taking over for interim CEO Sarah Spiegel, who served at the helm after CEO Max Wetzel left in November 2024.