Tennessee Fast-Food Executive Donald Trump's Pick for Labor Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC — Andrew Pudzer, CEO of the company that owns the fast-food chains Hardee's and Carl's Jr., was announced as Donald Trump's pick to run the Labor Department

“Andy Puzder has created and boosted the careers of thousands of Americans, and his extensive record fighting for workers makes him the ideal candidate to lead the Department of Labor,” Trump said. “Andy will fight to make American workers safer and more prosperous by enforcing fair occupational safety standards and ensuring workers receive the benefits they deserve, and he will save small businesses from the crushing burdens of unnecessary regulations that are stunting job growth and suppressing wages.”

Franklin, Tennessee, resident Pudzer, CEO of CKE Restaurants Holdings, worked as an adviser to the Trump campaign and is a vocal critic of what he regards as over-regulation of businesses and, particularly, the push for an increase in the minimum wage.

“I am honored to be nominated by President-elect Trump for Secretary of Labor. I look forward to the opportunity to help President-elect Trump restore America’s global economic leadership,” Puzder said. “The President-elect believes, as do I, that the right government policies can result in more jobs and better wages for the American worker. I’m proud to be offered the chance to serve in his Administration.”

CKE relocated its corporate headquarters to Middle Tennessee in April, consolidating facilities in Anaheim, California, and St. Louis, with Pudzer saying that the Volunteer State "understands business and provides companies like ours with an environment that facilitates success."

Pudzer has led Hardee's and Carl's Jr. during a time in which the restaurants have drawn attention for their highly-suggestive commercials featuring models, such as Paris Hilton and Kate Upton, in various states of undress, visually and audibly enjoying the restaurant group's hamburgers more than seems realistic.

Puzder told Entrepreneur magazine that the ads are aimed at "young hungry guys" and that sales increase as complaints about advertising increase.

“I like our ads. I like beautiful women eating burgers in bikinis. I think it's very American,” Puzder told Entrepreneur in 2015. “I used to hear, brands take on the personality of the CEO. And I rarely thought that was true, but I think this one, in this case, it kind of did take on my personality.”

In addition to his vehement opposition to raises in the minimum wage, Puzder wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal alleging that the Affordable Care Act was causing a recession in the restaurant business.