KFC U.S. President Catherine Tan-Gillespie Targets Sales Recovery as U.S. Revenue Falls 3% in 2025

Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who took the helm of KFC U.S. in April 2025, is working to reverse declining American sales as the brand faces intensifying competition and more cost-conscious consumers. KFC's U.S. sales fell 3% year over year in 2025 and dropped another 2% in the most recent reported quarter, according to Fortune. The executive, 52, began her restaurant career at 13 washing dishes at British chain Beefeater for £1.20 an hour, later rising to assistant general manager. She joined KFC South Pacific in 2015 overseeing marketing in Australia and New Zealand, became global chief marketing officer two years later, and led KFC Canada in 2024 before assuming the U.S. role. Her turnaround strategy includes targeting younger consumers through a partnership with 21-year-old livestreamer iShowSpeed and revamping menu items, branding and store layout. KFC also ended its roughly four-decade Pepsi partnership in favor of rival Coca-Cola this month. KFC is a unit of Yum Brands.