Fasika Melaku is the SVP, Chief Human Resources and Chief Learning Officer Denny’s Corporation. She is responsible for growing and nurturing the Denny’s culture and operationalizing its ethos—that clarify what is needed from employees to transform the company, ensuring our ability to provide a realiable guest experience and truly deliver for learners.

Fasika has a cross-industry track record of successfully unlocking the potential of teams by tapping into the skills and passions of people and the leaders who guide them. Prior to joining Denny’s, Melaku held the position as Vice President of Restaurant Training and Recruiting for Taco Bueno Restaurants, a 161-unit company with annual revenues of $200 million based in Dallas, Texas. In that role Fasika Melaku focused on building a culture of people and operational excellence throughout the organization and building department credibility by establishing collaborative relationships with her peers and operations management.

Before that, Fasika Melaku held a variety of roles in operations and HR leadership with Brinker International and Darden Restaurant Group. Within those roles, she worked on delivering learning solutions and driving long-range organizational initiatives including the implantation of broad-range of talent processes, including recruitment and on-boarding, performance management and succession planning, executive assessments, employee surveys, and leadership development programs. She is actively involved in the community and sits on the board of the Urban League of the Upstate.