Popeyes Dismisses Chief Marketing Officer Matt Rubin
The fast food chain has parted ways with its marketing leader following consecutive quarters of declining sales.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Dining Out
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Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen has dismissed chief marketing officer Matt Rubin after a tenure of less than one year. The leadership shakeup follows a period where same-store sales declined in seven of the past eight quarters.
Why it matters
Company leadership stated that business performance, specifically related to sales and customer traffic, is currently falling short of expectations. As a result, the brand is restructuring its marketing oversight while seeking a permanent replacement for the position.
Popeyes has seen same-store sales decline in seven of the past eight quarters. Despite these headwinds, the chain has expanded significantly, opening approximately 1,000 additional restaurants since 2019.
The players
Matt Rubin
He served as the chief marketing officer for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen for less than one year before his dismissal.
Peter Perdue
He currently serves as the president of Popeyes U.S. and Canada and will oversee the marketing department during the transition period.
Chris Padoan
He serves as the chief operating officer of Popeyes and will assume responsibility for operations tasks following the executive departures.
Barbara Linn
She has been appointed as the new VP of calendar, category, execution, and field marketing at Popeyes.
Restaurant Brands International
This is the parent company of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen that is responsible for reporting quarterly earnings to the public.
The details
In addition to the departure of Matt Rubin, two other marketing executives have also left the company. President of Popeyes U.S. and Canada Peter Perdue will oversee the marketing team and agency partners during the search for a new chief marketing officer, while chief operating officer Chris Padoan handles operations tasks.
Timeline
The company has opened approximately 1,000 new restaurants since 2019.
Matt Rubin was dismissed as chief marketing officer in October 2026.
Restaurant Brands International will report third-quarter earnings on October 29, 2026.
Culture Shift
This leadership change highlights a departure from the rapid expansion strategy defined by the 2019 introduction of the Popeyes Chicken Sandwich. The move signals a pivot away from aggressive unit growth toward stabilizing core store traffic and long-term brand health.
Customers are unlikely to see immediate changes to menus or pricing as the company focuses on internal leadership transitions. However, future marketing campaigns may shift as the new leadership team works to address the recent decline in store traffic.
The takeaway
The company is currently prioritizing internal stability as it manages executive departures alongside a challenging financial quarter. Investors and customers should look to upcoming earnings reports for details on the brand's path forward.
What happens next
Restaurant Brands International is scheduled to report its third-quarter earnings on the morning of October 29, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about industry trends in the Dining Out section.
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