---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001193125-23-007602"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WEN"
cik: "0000030697"
company_name: "Wendy's Co"
filed_at: "2023-01-13T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-20T15:39:09.694494+00:00"
event_type: "earnings"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "medium"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Wendy's raises dividend 100% to $0.25, approves $500M buyback; CFO US resigns, CAO named

## Summary
- Q4/FY2022 prelim results: global same-restaurant sales double-digit two-year stack; margins expanded ~300bps in Q4 vs Q1; 275+ new restaurants opened.
- Quarterly dividend increased 100% to $0.25/share; new $500M share repurchase authorization approved by Board.
- Leigh Burnside, SVP/CAO/CFO US, resigns to become CFO elsewhere; Suzanne Thuerk named Chief Accounting Officer effective Jan 20, 2023.
- Kurt Kane, President US and Chief Commercial Officer, leaves as role eliminated; eligible for severance per prior proxy statement.
- Chairman Nelson Peltz expresses confidence in Company's growth plans and capital allocation strategy.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001193125-23-007602
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WEN
- cik: 0000030697
- company_name: Wendy's Co
- filed_at: 2023-01-13T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: earnings
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: medium
- sec_items: 2.02, 9.01, 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/0001193125-23-007602-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/d416500d8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-007602
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-007602.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001193125-23-007602.txt

## Key facts
- Earnings Releases
  Wendy's Co reported preliminary financial results for fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 1, 2023.
  - Period: fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 1, 2023
  - Result: preliminary results
  source text: On January 13, 2023, The Wendy’s Company (the “Company”) issued a press release reporting its preliminary, unaudited results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2022 and providing an update on its capital allocation plans and other information.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/0001193125-23-007602-index.htm
- Executive change
  Leigh A. Burnside resigned as Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer U.S. at Wendy's Co.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer U.S.
  source text: On January 9, 2023, Leigh A. Burnside, the Company’s Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer and Chief Financial Officer U.S., provided notice to the Company of her intention to resign from the Company to become the chief financial officer at another restaurant company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/0001193125-23-007602-index.htm
- Executive change
  Suzanne M. Thuerk was appointed as Chief Accounting Officer at Wendy's Co.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Accounting Officer
  source text: Suzanne M. Thuerk, currently Vice President – Accounting, has been appointed as the Company’s Chief Accounting Officer effective January 20, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/0001193125-23-007602-index.htm
- Executive change
  Kurt A. Kane departed as President, U.S. and Chief Commercial Officer at Wendy's Co.
  - Action: depart
  - Role: President, U.S. and Chief Commercial Officer
  source text: the Company determined that the role of President, U.S. and Chief Commercial Officer was being eliminated and, as a result, Kurt A. Kane will depart the organization.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/30697/000119312523007602/0001193125-23-007602-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.