Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc., the franchisor and operator of Popeyes restaurants, announced that William P. Matt will join the Popeyes executive team as chief financial officer, effectively immediately. Reporting to chief executive officer Cheryl Bachelder, Matt will oversee the company’s financial matters and lead the company’s efforts in determining and implementing the most effective strategies for Popeyes to accelerate its long-term growth potential and maximize shareholder value.

“The addition of Will as our new CFO brings a strong complement to our leadership team as we execute our strategic roadmap for growth around the globe,” Bachelder says. “Will’s broad, relevant experience in leading growth at evolving brands will be instrumental in Popeyes’ continued success. Spanning beyond finance to real estate, technology, and operations, Will’s experience collaborating in cross-discipline teams makes him a strong cultural fit for Popeyes, and we are pleased to have him join our company.”

Matt joins Popeyes with experience in both the retail and foodservice industries. He most recently served as chief operating officer of La Senza Global, an arm of L Brands Inc., based in Columbus, Ohio. Matt also served as chief financial officer of Victoria Secret Direct while at L Brands Inc. Prior to his 14 years with L Brands, Matt spent nine years at PepsiCo/KFC, culminating as vice president of planning.

“Over the last several years, Cheryl and her team have transformed Popeyes into one of the most significant brands in the [quick-serve] space,” Matt says. “With the momentum the brand has established, the company is poised to achieve new levels of success for its stakeholders, and I am proud to be part of this executive team.”

Matt completed his undergraduate work at Colgate University and received an MBA from Columbia Business School.