CKE Restaurants Hires Fidelity Exec

The ties binding CKE Restaurants Inc. and Fidelity National Financial Inc. grew stronger Thursday as the restaurant operator turned to an executive at a Fidelity National subsidiary to serve as its chief financial officer.

Joseph N. Stein, 34, most recently senior vice president at Fidelity National Title Co., succeeded longtime CKE executive Loren C. Pannier as chief financial officer, the company said Thursday. Pannier, 53, will remain at CKE in the newly created post of senior vice president and treasurer.

CKE Chairman William P. Foley II also serves as chairman of Fidelity National Financial. Foley led a group of investors that took control of the fast-food company in late 1993. CKE is the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. chain and an area developer of Boston Market restaurants.

Pannier, CKE’s chief financial officer since 1980, will continue to supervise the company’s treasury function, financial planning, purchasing, distribution, administrative and financial services and CKE’s banking relationships.

Before serving as director of national agency operations at Fidelity National Title in Newport Beach, Stein was with the KPMG Peat Marwick accounting firm.