NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Former Hardee's CEO and Tennessean Andy Puzder is now being nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
The nominations sent from the White House on Tuesday listed Puzder, of Brentwood. He was the only Middle Tennessean on the list.
Puzder was a former U.S. Secretary of Labor nominee during the first President Donald Trump administration in 2017. But Puzder withdrew that nomination after Republican senators turned their support elsewhere. During that time, protesters in Franklin asked that Puzder "stay home," disagreeing at the time with his labor practices in the fast food industry. He was a staunch opponent of any federal minimum wage increases.
Puzder helped relocate Hardee's headquarters — CKE — to Franklin in 2016 from California. He held the position at CKE for 17 years.
CKE Restaurants owns or franchises Hardee’s locations, mostly in the Midwest and Southeast. They also own Carl’s Jr. and Green Burrito restaurants, mostly in the West. The company also owns or franchises the brands internationally.
Trump didn't express why he chose Puzder to advise relations with the European Union.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at emily.west@newschannel5.com.
Here’s a beautiful story of how one mother turned her grief journey into a gathering of gratitude… and organ donation awareness.
Robb Coles highlights a special event organized by Cari Hollis – whose 26-year old son Austin died two years ago. Austin agreed to be an organ donor – and that single gesture saved multiple lives.
Cari reached out to as many recipients she could find – several of whom traveled to Nashville for an emotional celebration in Austin’s honor. One woman – whose life was saved by receiving Austin’s lungs – put it simply: “He’s my angel”.
- Rhori Johnston
