A seasoned executive with more than 30 years in the human resources profession, Peggy Rubenzer serves as Whataburger’s Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer.
Peggy joined Whataburger in April 2022 to support the brand’s continued growth in new states while expanding its 51,000+ Family Member workforce. A member of the Strategic Leadership Team, she is responsible for all Human Resources, Recruiting, Training, and Brand Communication & Culture efforts – from compensation and benefits, to recruiting and training, to community charitable efforts and culture-building.
As Whataburger enters its most significant period of growth in the brand’s 72-year history, Peggy sets a strategy to achieve long-term success by strengthening engagement, retention and leadership opportunities for all employees.
“It really all boils down to people: People in the guest-facing positions on the front lines who deliver brand hospitality to customers, and people behind the scenes who work so hard to support and help to drive those successes,” she says.
She brings a wealth of experience to the role, including senior leadership experience at True Food Kitchen, Shake Shack Enterprises, PF Chang’s China Bistro Inc., and Southwest Airlines.
“Peggy has designed, developed and executed people models and training programs for some top-notch brands,” says Whataburger CEO Ed Nelson. “Her experience shaping HR and Training functions has proven extremely valuable as Whataburger continues its growth into new markets and new states – and expands its workforce.”
Peggy hails from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and completed the Executive HR Program at Stanford University for seasoned HR professionals.
