Ryan Weaver is the Chief Executive Officer and one of the controlling owners of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, a quick-service restaurant franchise specializing in fried chicken, homestyle sides, and biscuits. Weaver’s experience spans diverse sectors, including consulting, banking, and private investing, and he has demonstrated an ability to navigate complex challenges and steer companies toward growth.
Weaver was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken in June 2021, when he and his partners purchased the Lee’s brand. Since taking over the role, he and his management team have focused on re-energizing and transforming the legacy brand, including the launch of a complete brand refresh in 2023. Under his stewardship, Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken has reconnected with existing franchisees, set annual sales records each year, been named the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken by USA Today, and signed the largest development deal in the history of the brand.
Weaver began his professional career with FTI Consulting, where he focused on advising businesses in the Telecom, Media, & Technology (TMT) sectors. He then worked in the Restructuring group at Houlihan Lokey, specializing in advising debtors and lender groups through complex restructuring transactions. The bulk of his professional career was spent as a principal investor in the Private Equity group at Apollo Global Management, where Weaver worked directly on transactions involving over $6 billion of committed equity capital. Weaver worked closely with the c-suite management teams and served on the board of directors of several portfolio companies during his time at Apollo.
Weaver holds a Bachelor of Science and Geomatics from the University of Florida and a Master of Science and Finance degree from Villanova University.
