Cheryl Bachelder

Cheryl Bachelder (born 1956) is an American businesswoman who was Interim CEO of Pier 1 Imports and was previously CEO of AFC Enterprises, the parent company of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, from 2007 to 2017. She was president of KFC from 2001 to 2003.

Biography Bachelder grew up in a Christian family. She received a bachelor of science (1977) and master of business administration (1978) from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University Bloomington. From 1978 to 1992, Bachelder served in a number of brand management positions in the consumer products industry, at Procter & Gamble, Gillette and RJR Nabisco.

Bachelder put her career on hold several times to be a full-time mother and homemaker. Two years later, she was fired, based on what she herself describes as "'mediocre' performance". At the time she was hired, Popeyes had shuffled through four CEOs in the previous seven years, and relationships with franchisees had become strained. Popeyes' stock rose in value from $15 to $79 per share, alongside consistent increases in same-store restaurant sales, during her tenure.

Bachelder authored a book, Dare to Serve: How To Drive Superior Results While Serving Others, about servant leadership, the management philosophy she claimed to follow during her years in business. She identifies as a Christian and is pro-life.