Lee Leet, Founder of QSR Automations, Was a Leader in Restaurant Optimization Technology

Lee Leet, founder and CEO of QSR Automations, died unexpectedly on March 3.  He was 53 years old.

Leet founded QSR Automations, based in Louisville, Ky., in 1996. Today the company is known as a leader in restaurant optimization technology and for its ConnectSmart Kitchen display platform.  

After earning a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Engineering Math and Computer Science from the University of Louisville and serving in the United States Air Force, QSR Automations was born out of a consulting project. According to his obituary, in the mid-1990’s Leet was working as a consultant for a major quick service restaurant and was tasked with creating a cutting-edge kitchen solution for their multi-brand concept. He saw an opportunity and he jumped at the chance to create these solutions on a broader scale. So, he quit his consulting job, and founded QSR Automations to build that system. For 25 years, Lee was dedicated to driving QSR’s growth, strategy, and innovation of industry solutions that revolutionized restaurant technology.

Under his leadership, QSR Automations has become a global leader in the hospitality and restaurant space. The company's clients include KFC, Applebee's, Cheesecake Factory and Outback Steakhouse. Leet was a regular contributor to HT, and his most recent thought leadership column was 5 Features of a Customer-Centric KDS and links to his other articles are below.  

Leet is survived by his wife Angela and sons Zak and Brennan.