Wendy's Japan aims to re-energize the American fast-food brand in this country under the leadership of a veteran of corporate planning at McDonald's.

Osamu Shiseki, 55, now an adviser to Wendy's, will replace 63-year-old Ernest M. Higa as CEO of Wendy's Japan and subsidiary First Kitchen on Thursday. 

Higa will retain representative rights as chairman. Wendy's is looking to integrate its operations with those of First Kitchen to revitalize its flagging business.

The incoming president spent eight years from 1997 at McDonald's Holdings Japan, planning new locations and renovations. In April 2013, he became president of Freshness, the operator of Japanese chain Freshness Burger. He left the company in July 2016 as the company recorded 18 straight months of same-store sales growth.

Wendy's Japan acquired First Kitchen at the end of June this year. The plan going forward is to gradually convert First Kitchen locations, particularly those in central Tokyo areas, into Wendy's-First Kitchen hybrid restaurants.