Robert Lilienstern
About Robert Lilienstern
Robert Lilienstern serves as the Chief Financial Officer at White Castle, a position he has held since 2022. He has extensive experience in finance and strategic planning, having previously worked for Yum! Brands and CKE Restaurants, Inc.
Work at White Castle
Robert Lilienstern has served as Chief Financial Officer at White Castle since 2022. In this role, he has led a multi-year restaurant remodel program, managing performance and interactions with design/build vendors and franchisees. His responsibilities include overseeing financial strategies and ensuring effective financial management within the organization.
Previous Experience in the Restaurant Industry
Before joining White Castle, Robert Lilienstern held several key positions at CKE Restaurants, Inc. He worked as Interim Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Finance & Planning from 2021 to 2022. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Finance from 2017 to 2021. His experience also includes a tenure at Yum! Brands, where he held various roles, including Senior Director of Development Strategies for KFC.
Education and Expertise
Robert Lilienstern earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of St. Thomas (TX) from 1999 to 2003. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Business Administration in Finance from Rice Business - Jones Graduate School of Business from 2003 to 2005. His expertise includes strategic planning, treasury-capital markets, and process innovation.
Skills in Financial Management
Robert Lilienstern possesses a range of skills in financial management, including treasury-capital markets, share repurchases, debt issuance, and credit facility negotiation. He has experience managing foreign exchange and interest rate derivatives. Additionally, he has expertise in influencing cross-functional teams to support strategic agendas within the supply chain sector.
Leadership in Project Management
Robert Lilienstern has demonstrated leadership in project management, particularly in process innovation and team coaching. He has led initiatives that involve tools, training, and presentations for cross-functional brand-driving projects. His experience in strategic planning encompasses business analysis related to sales, pricing, and new product test market validation.