Monica Sauls has been appointed as Chief People Officer of the fast-food restaurant chain Bojangles, making her the first African American to work as a senior executive in the company's over four-decade history. With that role, she will focus on the company culture and leading its human resources department.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Bojangles has more than 500 restaurants that are all located on the east coast and in the midwest. Sauls' new executive role is critical as Bojangles plans to hire more than 30,000 people over the next year "due to expected growth and demand." She is expected to "build on our commitment to diversity and inclusion to create a culture where all employees are respected and valued," said Bojangles CEO Jose Amario.
Sauls will lead talent acquisition, talent development, employee relations, diversity and inclusion, and culture stewardship, reporting directly to the CEO.
"As the Chief People Officer, I will focus on building and maintaining a people-centered culture where everyone at Bojangles can do their best work and help the company succeed," she said.
Sauls has 20 years of experience leading human resources under her belt. She has previously worked with Duke Energy's Fossil Hydro and Nuclear divisions and Boeing Co., as well as Walgreens and Ingersoll Rand.
She earned her Master’s degree in Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She also earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville.