CKE Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: CKR) announced June 14 that Andrew F. Puzder, 49, has been named chief executive officer and president of its Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. subsidiary.

Puzder joined CKE Restaurants in 1997 as executive vice president, general counsel, overseeing franchising at Carl’s Jr. In 1998 he began overseeing franchising at Hardee’s. “Andy has been instrumental in the integration of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s infrastructures,” said Tom Thompson, CKE’s chief executive officer and president. “I have confidence that Andy will be effective in leading the turnaround effort at Hardee’s, particularly as we rebalance the system to fewer company and more franchised restaurants.”

Puzder also has served as executive vice president, general counsel for Fidelity National Financial, Inc. and chief executive officer of Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, Inc. He will be stepping down from those management positions. Puzder formerly was a partner with the law firm Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth.

Puzder received his juris doctorate in 1978 from Washington University of Law in St. Louis. He is a member of the California, Nevada and Missouri Bar Associations.

Rory J. Murphy, who served as Hardee’s president and chief operating officer since CKE’s acquisition in July 1997, remains executive vice president of operations for CKE Restaurants, Inc. and has taken on the responsibility for overseeing operations for CKE’s Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and Taco Bueno concepts.

CKE Restaurants, Inc., through its subsidiaries, franchisees and licensees, operates more than 3,800 quick-service restaurants, including 947 Carl’s Jr. restaurants located in 13 Western states and Mexico; 2,774 Hardee’s restaurants in 36 states and 11 foreign countries; and 125 Taco Bueno restaurants in Texas and Oklahoma.