The chief operating officer at Bojangles’ Inc., has left the Southern fast-food company, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Kenneth Avery’s departure was effective April 17. He was at the company for 10 years. The filing said he was “pursuing other professional opportunities.”

Avery has served as senior vice president of operations and chief of operations of Bojangles’ Inc.

Prior to joining the company in 2008, Avery held various positions at CKE Restaurants, a restaurant group that owns the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. brands.

He began as a vice president of operations at Bojangles’ and eventually served as senior vice president of operations and chief operating officer.

Avery graduated from North Carolina Wesleyan College in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in business.

He currently serves as the board member of the Children’s Attention Home and the Piedmont chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The stock price for Bojangles’ closed at $20.25 Tuesday, a 1 percent increase from the previous day.