Wendy's CEO, Gordon Teter, Dies Unexpectedly

DUBLIN, Ohio (PROTEXT) - Gordon F. Teter, 56, chairman, CEO and president of Wendy's International (NYSE: WEN) passed away last night at his home of natural causes. The medical examiner will determine the exact cause of death. "Gordon was a great friend and a tremendous leader," said Dave Thomas, founder and senior chairman. "He had a great business mind and a passion for people. He was one of the smartest men I knew, and he taught all of us how to be better businesspeople. We will miss him dearly," he added. Teter joined the company in 1987 as executive vice president of restaurant operations, after more than 20 years in the franchised restaurant industry. He joined Wendy's board of directors in 1990 and became president and chief operating officer in 1991. He was promoted to CEO in 1995 and added the title of chairman in 1997. Teter's leadership and innovations in restaurant operations and franchisee relations guided the Wendy's system throughout the past decade of outstanding growth and prosperity. Teter considered one of his greatest accomplishments to be the 1995 merger of Wendy's and Tim Hortons, the coffee and fresh baked goods chain headquartered in Toronto. Tim Hortons has grown by nearly 50% in the number of restaurants and significantly increased profits in the past four years, and expanded into the United States in the Columbus, Detroit and Buffalo markets. A Lawrence, Ind., native, Teter received his undergraduate degree from Purdue and a master's degree in business administration. He was an all-star high-school running back and played football at Purdue. He was selected on the All Big Ten Academic football team and was named MVP and captain of Purdue's baseball team. Teter had a deep commitment to education and the cause of adoption. He was a founding trustee of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and a national judge for the Wendy's High School Heisman program. He also served on the Advisory Board of the Krannert School of Business at Purdue. He is survived by his daughter, Molly, former wife, Carol, his mother, Bonnie, and brother Jim, both of Indianapolis. Arrangements are pending and will be made public as they are available. Wendy's International, Inc. is one of the world's largest restaurant operating and franchising companies with nearly $7 billion in systemwide sales. There are more than 5,500 Wendy's restaurants worldwide and more than 1,800 Tim Hortons restaurants in North America. ots Original Text Service: Wendy's International, Inc. Internet: http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Denny Lynch of Wendy's International, Inc., 614-764-3553 Web site: http://www.wendys.com Subscribers please note that material bearing the slug "PROTEXT" is not part of CTK's news service and is not to be published under the "CTK" slug. Protext is a commercial service providing distribution of press releases from clients, who are identified in the text of Protext reports and who bear full responsibility for their contents. PROTEXT