Kate Ward has been entrusted to protect Colonel Sanders' secret blend of 11 herbs and spices, having been promoted to chief legal officer at KFC U.S. starting Jan. 1.

Ward is currently director of KFC legal, providing legal support for marketing and advertising, along with digital and technology issues.

She joined Louisville, Kentucky-based KFC in 2016, overseeing employment law and litigation and partnering on real estate and refranchising efforts. Before that, she was an associate of Bingham Greenebaum Doll.