Dan T. Cathy
President and COO, Chick-fil-A
Background:
As president for one of the nation’s largest family-owned quick-service restaurant chains, Chick-fil-A’s Dan Cathy represents the next generation of leadership for the Atlanta-based company founded by his father, S. Truett Cathy, in 1946.
Cathy’s nearly life-long career at Chick-fil-A began at age nine as he sang songs for customers and did radio commercials for the chain’s original restaurant in Hapeville, Ga.
After receiving his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Georgia Southern University, Cathy returned to Chick-fil-A where he served as director of operations – opening more than 50 new Chick-fil-A restaurants throughout the country.
As Chick-fil-A continued to grow, so did Cathy’s responsibilities with the company. His steady rise through the ranks of senior director of operations, vice president of operations, executive vice president, and most recently, president, is a testament to his dedication to the Chick-fil-A brand and its long-held principles and traditions.
As dedicated to Chick-fil-A as he is, Cathy also finds time to give generously of his time and efforts in the community, serving on the boards of several academic and charitable organizations.
In his “spare” time, Cathy has completed the owner/management course at Harvard Business School, earned his pilot’s license and has run in and completed the Los Angeles and Boston marathons.
A native of Jonesboro, Georgia, Cathy has been married to his wife Rhonda for more than 30 years and has two sons, Andrew and Ross.