Founder Andrew Wiederhorn returns as FAT Brands (FATBW) CEO, ex-co-CEOs stay in key roles

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

FAT Brands Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has reappointed founder and Chairman Andrew Wiederhorn as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2, 2025. He previously held the CEO role from the company’s inception in March 2017 until May 2023.

Former Co-Chief Executive Officers Ken Kuick and Taylor Wiederhorn will remain in senior roles as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Development Officer, respectively, providing continuity in finance and growth functions. Since May 2023, Andrew Wiederhorn has been providing consulting services to the company under an existing Consulting Agreement, which will continue to govern his compensation until a new employment agreement for his CEO role is finalized and executed.

The company also states that Wiederhorn will no longer receive director fees, which are only paid to non-employee directors. Additional background and related-party information about him is incorporated by reference from the company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Insights

Corporate governance and leadership analyst

FAT Brands brings its founder back as CEO while keeping prior co-CEOs in key roles.

The company’s Board has reinstated founder and Chairman Andrew Wiederhorn as President and CEO, returning to a leadership structure centered on a single chief executive. This replaces the prior Co-Chief Executive Officer arrangement, while retaining Ken Kuick as Chief Financial Officer and Taylor Wiederhorn as Chief Development Officer, which may help preserve operational continuity.

Andrew Wiederhorn has remained closely involved with the business through a Consulting Agreement since May 2023, and that agreement will continue to set his compensation until a new employment contract is completed. The filing notes that he will stop receiving director fees because those payments apply only to non-employee directors, slightly changing how his board service is compensated.

The overall impact for investors depends on how the restored CEO role influences strategy and execution over time. Additional context on his relationships and related-party transactions is available in the company’s latest Form 10-K, which may help readers understand the governance framework around this leadership change.

false 0001705012 0001705012 2025-09-02 2025-09-02 0001705012 FAT:ClassCommonStockMember 2025-09-02 2025-09-02 0001705012 FAT:ClassBCommonStockMember 2025-09-02 2025-09-02 0001705012 FAT:SeriesBCumulativePreferredStockMember 2025-09-02 2025-09-02 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 2, 2025

FAT Brands Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware		001-38250		82-1302696
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)		(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification No.)

9720 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 500 Beverly Hills, CA		90212
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (310) 319-1850

Not Applicable

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Trading Symbol(s)		Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock		FAT		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Class B Common Stock		FATBB		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
Series B Cumulative Preferred Stock		FATBP		The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Effective September 2, 2025, the Board of Directors of FAT Brands Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Andrew Wiederhorn as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, a position that he previously held until May 2023. Ken Kuick and Taylor Wiederhorn, the previous Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Company, will continue to serve as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Development Officer, respectively, of the Company.

Andrew Wiederhorn, age 59, is the founder and Chairman of the Company, and previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from its inception in March 2017 until May 2023. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Twin Hospitality Group Inc. since August 2025.

Since May 2023, Mr. Wiederhorn has provided consulting services to the Company and was compensated under a Consulting Agreement, a copy of which is included as an exhibit hereto and incorporated by reference herein. The Company expects to enter into a new employment agreement with Mr. Wiederhorn in connection with his re-appointment as President and CEO, but will continue to compensate Mr. Wiederhorn under the Consulting Agreement until the new employment agreement is completed and executed. Mr. Wiederhorn will no longer receive director fees effective immediately, which are only payable to non-employee directors of the Company.

The additional information relating to Mr. Wiederhorn required by Item 401(d) and Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K was included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2025 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under “Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence”, which disclosure is incorporated herein by this reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Consulting Agreement, dated July 19, 2023, by and among FAT Brands Inc., Fog Cutter Consulting Corp. and Andrew A. Wiederhorn, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 21, 2023.
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: September 4, 2025

	FAT Brands Inc.
	By:	/s/ Kenneth J. Kuick
		Kenneth J. Kuick
		Chief Financial Officer

FAQ

What leadership change did FATBW announce in this 8-K?

The company reported that its Board reappointed Andrew Wiederhorn as President and Chief Executive Officer of FAT Brands Inc., effective September 2, 2025.

What roles will the former Co-CEOs of FAT Brands (FATBW) now hold?

Ken Kuick will continue as Chief Financial Officer and Taylor Wiederhorn will continue as Chief Development Officer, after previously serving as Co-Chief Executive Officers.

What is Andrew Wiederhorn’s prior experience with FAT Brands Inc.?

Andrew Wiederhorn is the founder and Chairman of FAT Brands Inc. and previously served as its President and CEO from the company’s inception in March 2017 until May 2023.

How is FAT Brands (FATBW) currently compensating Andrew Wiederhorn?

He has been providing consulting services under a Consulting Agreement since May 2023, and the company will continue to compensate him under that agreement until a new employment contract for his CEO role is completed and executed.

Will Andrew Wiederhorn receive director fees from FAT Brands Inc.?

No. The filing states that Andrew Wiederhorn will no longer receive director fees, which are only payable to non-employee directors of the company.

Where can investors find more details on related-party information about Andrew Wiederhorn at FATBW?

Additional information required by Item 401(d) and Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K regarding Andrew Wiederhorn is incorporated by reference from FAT Brands Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2025.