Aylwin Lewis, 2014 Executive Mentor

Aylwin Lewis_President and Chief Executive Officer of Potbelly Sandwich Shop

Texas native, Aylwin B. Lewis, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Potbelly Sandwich Shop, since June, 2008. Potbelly is a Chicago-based sandwich chain with operations throughout the United States and the Middle East. Prior to Potbelly, Mr. Lewis served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Sears Holdings, a corporation that emerged after the successful merger of two retail giants, Kmart and Sears. Mr. Lewis was the President and CEO of Kmart at the time of the merger.

Mr. Lewis has over 29 years of restaurant experience. He was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer of YUM! Brands, Inc., the parent of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, among other restaurant concepts, from 2000 to 2004, and the Chief Operating Officer of Pizza Hut from 1996 to 2000.

Mr. Lewis is a member of the Board of Directors of The Walt Disney Company, serving since 2004, and was elected to the Board of Directors of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. in January of 2013. He also currently serves as a trustee of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.


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