Andrew Puzder

Andrew Franklin Puzder is an American lawyer, author, businessman, and political figure whose career has spanned commercial litigation, anti-abortion advocacy, restaurant management, economic commentary, and government service. He became nationally prominent as the chief executive of CKE Restaurants, the company behind the Carl's Jr. and Hardee's quick-service restaurant brands. He led CKE during a difficult period following its acquisition of Hardee's, when the company carried substantial debt and faced weak operating performance. As chief executive, Puzder pursued a turnaround centered on brand repositioning, franchising, operational discipline, and highly provocative advertising. He became a recognizable spokesman for the restaurant sector and frequently argued that lower regulation, limited government intervention, and business-friendly tax policy supported employment and growth. Puzder was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1950. He initially attended Kent State University and later completed a history degree at Cleveland State University. He earned a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1978. Before entering corporate management, he practiced commercial trial law in St. Louis and later California. His legal career included work for Carl Karcher, founder of Carl's Jr., during a period when Karcher faced financial and regulatory difficulties. Puzder helped structure a transaction that enabled Karcher to avoid bankruptcy while retaining an interest in the business. This relationship provided the foundation for Puzder's transition from outside counsel to restaurant-industry executive. Puzder held senior legal and executive roles at CKE Restaurants and Fidelity National Financial before becoming chief executive of Hardee's Food Systems in 2000 and CKE Restaurants later that year. He is credited with helping stabilize Hardee's and CKE, revive their marketing, and restore the company's growth prospects. CKE was acquired by Apollo Global Management in 2010 and later by Roark Capital Group in 2013. Puzder remained involved as CEO through the change in ownership, leaving the role in 2017. His tenure was closely associated with Carl's Jr. and Hardee's advertising that used sexualized imagery and celebrity endorsements to promote large hamburgers. Campaigns featuring Paris Hilton, Padma Lakshmi, Kim Kardashian, Kate Upton, and other models generated substantial attention but also criticism from feminist groups, commentators, and some consumers. After Puzder's departure, CKE moved away from this style of advertising toward campaigns emphasizing food and product attributes. Puzder has also been active in Republican politics. He advised Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign and held senior economic and platform roles. In 2016 he became a major adviser and fundraiser for Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Trump nominated him for United States Secretary of Labor in December 2016. The nomination encountered opposition concerning labor policy, alleged employment practices at CKE franchises, automation, minimum-wage policy, and personal issues disclosed during the vetting process. Puzder withdrew in February 2017 after it became clear that he lacked sufficient Senate support. He later developed a public profile as an author and commentator on labor regulation, economic policy, taxation, unions, and the role of government in business. His books include Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn't Understand It, co-written with David Newton, and The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left's Plot to Stop It. The supplied reference material states that Trump nominated Puzder as United States ambassador to the European Union in January 2025, that the Senate confirmed him in August 2025, and that he presented his credentials in September 2025.

Andrew Puzder was born on July 11, 1950, in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up in a working-class community in Russell Township. He supported himself and his family through construction, landscaping, and house painting while studying. After leaving Kent State University, he managed a guitar studio and completed a bachelor's degree in history at Cleveland State University in 1975. He received his law degree from Washington University School of Law in 1978, where he served as senior editor of the Washington University Law Quarterly. From 1978 through the 1990s, Puzder worked as a commercial trial lawyer in St. Louis and later California. His practice included high-profile litigation and corporate matters. During the 1980s and early 1990s, he was active in Missouri's anti-abortion movement and participated in Lawyers for Life. He contributed to legal arguments connected with Missouri legislation defining life as beginning at conception. That law was involved in the litigation ultimately decided by the Supreme Court in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services in 1989. Puzder later attempted to build cooperation between abortion opponents and abortion-rights advocates around assistance for pregnant women and children. Working with BJ Isaacson Jones, associated with the clinic involved in Webster, he helped establish the Common Ground Network for Life and Choice. The organization sought practical cooperation despite disagreements over abortion policy and held national conferences. In 1995, Puzder and Isaacson Jones co-authored Adoption as Common Ground. In 1989, Missouri Governor John Ashcroft appointed Puzder chair of a task force concerning mothers and unborn children. He resigned several months later, citing workload, after a newspaper report raised allegations about his conduct during a prior marriage. His former wife later withdrew the allegations and publicly stated that he had not been abusive. The issue resurfaced during his 2017 cabinet nomination. Puzder's professional relationship with Carl Karcher, founder of Carl's Jr., brought him into the restaurant business. Puzder represented Karcher during legal and financial difficulties and helped arrange a transaction involving William P. Foley that addressed Karcher's financial position. Puzder moved to California in 1991 to become Karcher's personal attorney. He subsequently worked at Lewis, D'Amato, Brisbois & Bisgaard and Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, and later became executive vice president and general counsel of Fidelity National Financial. He returned to CKE leadership in the 1990s. CKE acquired Hardee's, but the deal left the company heavily indebted and its performance deteriorated. In 2000, Puzder became chief executive of Hardee's Food Systems and then president and CEO of CKE Restaurants. His turnaround program helped reposition Hardee's, strengthen CKE's finances, and return the company to growth. He also worked with Foley on the creation of Santa Barbara Restaurant Group, which CKE acquired in 2002. CKE was acquired by Apollo Global Management in 2010 in a transaction that took the company private. Roark Capital Group acquired CKE in 2013 and retained Puzder's management team. Puzder left the chief executive position in 2017. His executive tenure was associated with aggressive brand marketing, especially advertisements for Carl's Jr. and Hardee's featuring hamburgers and scantily dressed female celebrities. The approach generated high visibility and controversy. CKE later retired the campaign style and moved toward food-centered advertising. Puzder expanded his public role through books, opinion writing, television appearances, and political activity. With David Newton, he wrote Job Creation, which advocates deregulation, tax reductions, reduced government spending, domestic energy production, and a critical view of organized labor. In 2018, he published The Capitalist Comeback, a defense of the economic policies associated with Donald Trump's first presidency. Puzder advised Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign and participated in the Republican National Convention and platform process. In 2016, he became a fundraiser, trustee, California finance chair, spokesman, and senior economic adviser for Trump's presidential campaign. Trump nominated him for labor secretary in December 2016. The nomination was delayed and ultimately withdrawn in February 2017 amid questions about his policy views, CKE franchise labor practices, employment of a domestic worker without proper immigration and tax compliance, and allegations from his former marriage. The supplied reference material states that Puzder returned to government service as ambassador to the European Union in 2025.

• 2025

  Became ambassador to the European Union

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  The supplied reference material states that Puzder was nominated, confirmed by the Senate, and credentialed as United States ambassador to the European Union.

• 2017

  Withdrew from cabinet nomination

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Puzder withdrew from consideration after opposition and confirmation difficulties.

• 2016

  Nominated for Secretary of Labor

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  President-elect Donald Trump nominated Puzder to lead the Department of Labor.

• 2013

  CKE acquired by Roark Capital

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Roark Capital Group purchased CKE and retained Puzder's management team.

• 2010

  CKE acquired by Apollo

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Apollo Global Management acquired CKE and took the company private.

• 2000

  Became CEO of CKE Restaurants

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Puzder was appointed president and chief executive during CKE's financial and operational turnaround.

• 1989

  Appointed to Missouri task force

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Governor John Ashcroft appointed Puzder chair of the Task Force for Mothers and Unborn Children.

• 1978

  Earned law degree and began legal career

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Received a JD from Washington University School of Law and entered commercial trial practice.

• 1975

  Earned bachelor's degree

  [1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Completed a history degree at Cleveland State University.

A business-oriented conservative commentator associated with restaurant-industry management, deregulation, employment policy, and Republican economic politics.

• Book · 2010

  Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn't Understand It

  A 2010 book co-written with David Newton that presents a business-oriented argument for deregulation, tax reductions, lower government spending, increased domestic energy production, and skepticism toward organized labor.

• Book · 2018

  The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left's Plot to Stop It

  Puzder's 2018 book examines the economic agenda and claimed effects of Donald Trump's first administration from a strongly pro-business and conservative perspective.

• 2017

  Labor Secretary nomination controversy

  Puzder's cabinet nomination faced criticism concerning labor practices at CKE franchise locations, alleged wage-and-hour violations, his opposition to some labor regulations and minimum-wage policies, support for workplace automation, and his employment of an undocumented domestic worker without proper tax compliance. He withdrew before a confirmation vote.

  Source

• 1989

  Allegations concerning conduct during marriage

  A newspaper report raised allegations of abuse during Puzder's prior marriage while he chaired a Missouri task force. His former wife later withdrew the allegations and stated that he had not been abusive; the issue nevertheless resurfaced during his 2017 nomination.

  Source

Read more

• 2016Hardee's bacon-themed advertising

  United States

  Hardee's promoted a bacon burger through a suggestive commercial featuring models feeding bacon to one another.

  Outcome. The commercial continued the highly sexualized advertising formula that CKE later abandoned.

  Source
• 2012Kate Upton burger advertisement

  United States

  A Carl's Jr. commercial featuring Kate Upton used suggestive imagery and a large burger as part of the company's established attention-driven advertising strategy.

  Outcome. The advertisement received substantial media attention and reinforced the controversial style associated with CKE during Puzder's tenure.

  Source
• 2005Carl's Jr. celebrity burger advertising

  United States

  CKE launched a provocative advertising approach showing celebrities and models eating large Carl's Jr. hamburgers, beginning with a Paris Hilton commercial. Puzder defended the format as an effective way to attract attention and support the brands.

  Outcome. The campaign became a defining part of the brands' public identity but also generated sustained criticism. CKE later replaced the approach with food-centered advertising after Puzder's departure.

  Source

• 2017

  Withdrawal from Labor Department nominationOther

  Background

  Opposition to Puzder's nomination intensified while the ethics review and confirmation process were delayed.

  Action taken

  Puzder withdrew his nomination on February 15, 2017.

  Aftermath

  He did not serve as Secretary of Labor and returned to writing, commentary, and political advocacy.

  Source

• 2013

  Roark Capital acquisition of CKEM&A

  Background

  CKE changed private-equity ownership after Apollo's period of control.

  Action taken

  Roark Capital Group acquired CKE and retained the existing management team, including Puzder.

  Aftermath

  Puzder remained CEO until 2017.

  Source

• 2010

  Apollo acquisition of CKEM&A

  Background

  CKE's ownership structure changed after years of operational restructuring.

  Action taken

  Apollo Global Management acquired CKE in a transaction that took the restaurant company private.

  Aftermath

  Puzder continued as CEO under the new ownership.

  Transaction value. $1 billion (2010 transaction)

  Source

• 2000

  CKE and Hardee's turnaroundStrategy

  Background

  CKE faced serious financial and operating difficulties after acquiring Hardee's, including substantial debt and weak performance.

  Action taken

  As CEO, Puzder pursued brand repositioning, marketing changes, operational improvements, and a growth strategy for Hardee's and CKE.

  Aftermath

  Puzder is credited with helping stabilize the company and return it to growth.

  Source

• 2025

  Andrew Puzder nominated as ambassador to the European Union[1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The supplied reference material states that President Donald Trump nominated Puzder to serve as United States ambassador to the European Union during the second Trump administration.

• 2025

  Senate confirms Andrew Puzder as ambassador to the European Union[1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  The supplied reference material states that the United States Senate confirmed Puzder on August 2, 2025, and that he presented his diplomatic credentials on September 11, 2025.

• 2016

  Donald Trump nominates Andrew Puzder for Secretary of Labor[1]Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change · Regulation · Other

  President-elect Donald Trump selected Puzder as his nominee to lead the U.S. Department of Labor. The nomination drew scrutiny over Puzder's positions on wages, regulation, automation, and labor enforcement, as well as issues connected with CKE franchise operations and his personal background.

1. 1Andrew Puzderen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Andrew Puzder official websiteandy.puzder.com