But he was also a contentious figure in the industry, sharply criticizing minimum-wage laws and other regulations imposed on employers. Under his leadership, CKE paid millions of dollars to settle claims that it failed to pay managers fairly, and the company was accused of understaffing its restaurants and forcing employees to work through break periods.

He was also an unabashed defender of his company’s racy television commercials, some of which featured bikini-clad women suggestively mouthing Carl’s Jr. burgers.

“I used to hear, brands take on the personality of the C.E.O.,” he told Entrepreneur magazine. “And I rarely thought that was true, but I think this one, in this case, it kind of did take on my personality.”

After Mr. Trump nominated him to lead the Labor Department, which oversees and enforces many of the nation’s labor regulations, Mr. Puzder admitted that he had employed an undocumented immigrant as a housekeeper for several years and failed to pay the required taxes until much later. During the Senate confirmation process, lawmakers also investigated claims of domestic violence that were made by his ex-wife and later recanted.

With Democratic senators and some Republicans expressing opposition to his nomination, he withdrew his name on Feb. 15 and said he would return to leading CKE.