Andrew Puzder, former chief executive of CKE Restaurants and economic expert, is a visiting fellow in business and economic freedom at The Heritage Foundation.

In his role as visiting fellow, Puzder focuses on the consequences of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activism, and the impact of shareholder resolutions. Puzder works with Heritage experts to advance business and free-market activity, economic growth, and develop policy solutions that benefit all Americans.

Puzder began his career as a commercial trial lawyer in St. Louis in 1978 and later served as the personal attorney for entrepreneur Carl Karcher. He went on to become CEO of the well-known fast food powerhouses Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s chains in 2000, expanding to 3,800 locations and leading the company out of serious financial difficulties.

He frequently delivers lectures on economics and politics for various groups, associations, colleges, and universities. Puzder is a senior fellow at the Pepperdine School of Public Policy, a member of the Washington University Law School’s Board of Advisors, a director at Job Creators Network, and a member of the advisory board at Prager University. He has authored several books, including “Job Creation: How It Really Works and Why Government Doesn’t Understand It,” “The Capitalist Comeback: The Trump Boom and the Left's Plot to Stop It,” “Getting America Back to Work” and “It’s Time to Let America Work Again.”

In 2021, Puzder was named chairman of the board at 2ndVote Advisers, an investment firm formed in response to the stakeholder capitalism and ESG movements.