Kerrii B. Anderson

Age: 50

title: Former CEO/President/Director (CEO since 2006)

company: Wendy’s International Inc.

hq: Dublin, Ohio

2006 Total Cash Compensation: $4,174,313

2006 Total Stock Options: $6,000,325

Kerrii Anderson’s days at Wendy’s were numbered when, in April, the company agreed to a $2.3 billion merger with Arby’s parent company, Atlanta-based Triarc Co. Inc. Once the deal was approved, Triarc’s CEO Roland Smith (also on this list) took the reins. But Anderson didn’t walk away empty handed: Her payout was worth an estimated $15 million.

The merger created the third-largest quick-service restaurant holding company in the U.S., with $12.5 billion in annual sales and more than 10,000 units. Both Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants will continue to operate as separate business units, but there will be a consolidated support center in Atlanta.

What does it all mean for shareholders? Wendy’s shareholders will receive 4.25 Triarc stocks for each share of Wendy’s stock they own.

Fred DeLuca

Age: 60

Title: Co-Founder/President

Company: Doctor’s Associates Incorporated

HQ: Milford, Connecticut

2007 Total Cash Compensation: Not Available*

2007 Total Stock Options: Not Available*

* Privately Held Company

In 2007, Forbes magazine ranked DeLuca—Subway’s co-founder—No. 297 of the 400 richest Americans. Even though he has a net worth of $1.5 billion, DeLuca is rumored to have never purchased a new car and to only fly economy. It should be no surprise he also pays close attention to the company’s expenditures and is reportedly always looking for ways to decrease costs and increase profitability.

In 2006, DeLuca came under fire when Doctor’s Associates Inc. was sued twice, each time by a group of franchisees over control of advertising dollars. Despite the ongoing legal disputes, Subway was ranked No. 2 by Entrepreneur magazine in its 2008 list of the world’s best franchises.

David C. Novak

Age: 55

Title: CEO/Chairman of the Board/ President/Director (CEO since 2000)

Company: Yum! Brands Inc.

HQ: Louisville, Kentucky

2007 Total Cash Compensation: $15,518,981

2007 Total Stock Options: $126,550,356

Novak’s biggest challenge when he took over Yum! (then operating under the name Tricon Global Restaurants) was to unite three global fast-food brands—KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. All were floundering and suspicious of each other’s management styles.

In the past decade, Novak has not only created a partnership among the three brands, he’s also rescued them financially. In 2007, Yum!’s total revenues topped $10.4 billion, an 8.9 percent increase from the previous year.

One of Novak’s long-term focuses—international expansion—seems to be paying off. Yum! reported a 15 percent earnings per share growth for 2007, which it attributes to its success in China. Right now there are more KFC restaurants in mainland China than McDonald’s. The long-term plan? Open 20,000 units in the world’s most populated country.