Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Roasters Corporation Current: Entrepreneur – Ft. Lauderdale, Florida & Lexington, Kentucky
Nationally noted as an innovative entrepreneur and businessman, former Governor of Kentucky, John Y. Brown is truly the consummate American businessman. His remarkable ability to spot consumer trends in the food industry has led to the tremendous success of the international chain of wood roasted chicken restaurants known as Kenny Rogers Roasters. As founder and CEO, and in conjunction with recording star and longtime friend, Kenny Rogers, Mr. Brown has spearheaded his company to an annual sales average of $1 million per unit, higher than any other chicken restaurant chain. Coincidently, he first made his mark in the restaurant franchise industry by recognizing the appeal of fast fried chicken during the 60’s and made “the colonel” famous. As co-owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Inc., he established an international reputation by building KFC into the world’s largest fast food service company, even bigger than McDonald’s, before selling in 1971. In addition to Roasters, since 1990 Brown has also founded and helped develop Miami Subs, Chicken By George, and Roadhouse Grill. As Governor of Kentucky from 1979 to 1983, he reduced the budget by 22 percent and brought record commerce to the state. His work brought him the Democrat of the Year award and was made lifetime Honorary Treasurer of the Democratic Party. He has also been an owner of two professional basketball teams – the Boston Celtics, and the Kentucky Colonels. “To be successful in business, you must believe in yourself, stick with it, and when necessary, build on the footprints of failure.”
