Kevin Bazner

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Kevin Bazner (born 1955) is an American businessman, working in the restaurant sector since 1970. Since 1985, he has worked at A&W Restaurants, first by assisting in its international operations, then acting as CEO from 1999 to 2025.

Contents

Biography

Bazner was born in 1955. [1]

In 1970, he started working at a kitchen restaurant. Over time, he became the director of Canadian operations of Magic Pan Restaurants. He was appointed president of the international branch of A&W Restaurants in 1985; [2] by 1990, he was living in Kuala Lumpur, [1] capital of Malaysia, where A&W has a strong presence. [3]

On August 2, 1990, after being in the United States with his family for a month, he was held hostage in Kuwait on the day Iraq invited the country. He was aboard a plane bound for Malaysia which was refueling. [1] He was taken to the Rashid Hotel in Baghdad during this period. [4] He appeared in footage taken by Iraqi television at the end of the month. [5] He was released in December. [3]

In July 1999, Bazner became the president of A&W Restaurants, during a corporate restructuring. [2] He had a key role in the acquisition of the chain by A Great American Brand, LLC, alongside franchises in Asia and Dale Mulder, which took over A&W at the end of 2011. [6]

On March 4, 2025, Bazner changed his role at A&W by becoming a chairman, when Betsy Schmandt took over as CEO. [7]

Education

Bazner attended Oakland Community College and the University of Michigan. [2]

Personal life

Bazner married Dawn, a British woman, and had two children, Elizabeth and David. [1] While held hostage in Iraq, his son David had a hernial condition. [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Families of Hostages Wait and Worry : Mideast crisis: Like an increasing number of Americans, a La Canada family has become the victim of a world torn asunder by violence and terrorism.
  2. 1 2 3 "A&W Restaurants, Inc. Promotes Kevin Bazner to President". PR Newswire. July 7, 1999.
  3. 1 2 "Pasadena Ex-Hostage Sees His Son for the First Time". Los Angeles Times .{{cite news}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
  4. ↑ "Son of California couple, 10-year-old caught up in invasion reported safe". Associated Press. August 8, 1990.
  5. 1 2 "Couple Sees Son in Iraqi TV Clip". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 12, 2025.
  6. ↑ "It's Final! Franchisees Buy Out Franchisor A&W". Blue Maumau. 23 December 2011. Archived from the original on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  7. ↑ "A&W Restaurants names Betsy Schmandt CEO, president". QSR Magazine. March 4, 2025.
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