Perry joins Leading NOW after a successful career in Human Resources and Operations. In his roles, he helped to drive profitability at complex global organizations that included private equity portfolio companies, large public companies, and privately-owned businesses. Perry’s unique background in Human Resource management and Operations, where he worked as a GM at McDonald’s Corporation in New Orleans, as a District Manager at Taco Bell Corporation and as a Regional Foodservice Manager at Target Stores Corporation, all roles with P&L, operations, training, and people development responsibilities.
His Human Resources skills were developed in the consumer products (CPG) industry at Nabisco Foods Company Inc., and Kraft Foods Inc.; he was responsible for various corporate functions in both the US and Latin America. Perry has held several roles leading the HR function, and guiding company culture: Raising Cane’s team as VP Crew Resources, VP HR at Thomas and King Inc., a privately-owned operator of Applebee’s and Johnny Carino’s brands, and SVP HR at Last Call Operating Company; Fox & Hound and Champps Sports Grill brands. These roles have enhanced his ability to lead through course changes, operate within slim margins, grow the organization’s talent development infrastructure, and build highly capable and service-oriented HR teams.
Perry has held several board positions with multiple associations including Women’s Foodservice Forum, Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance, and Girl Scouts Louisiana-East. He has been a leader within Society Human Resource Management (SHRM) Kentucky and Louisiana, most recently as President New Orleans SHRM Chapter in 2020 and Diversity Director Louisiana State SHRM Council 2021. He has led within business and industry organizations as the Founder, Member and President of the Kraft Foods Alumni Network, and CPG Professional Networks since 2006, and also as Vice Chairman of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber 2021.
Perry is a 2019 Graduate of New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute (NORLI) and Urban League’s ULead Program. Finally, after returning home to New Orleans, he founded Corporate Internship Leadership Institute in spring of 2019, a Louisiana based 501c3.
Perry received an Executive MBA from the University of South Florida and a B.S. in Marketing from Tampa College. He is a certified HR professional (SPHR and SCP), Myers-Briggs Practitioner and Predictive Index certified Talent Optimization Consultant.