However, the company announced the delay "as the company finalizes their quarterly assessment of internal controls as related to recent management change." Liberty's board of directors fired founder and CEO John Hewitt in September. It named Ed Brunot as CEO on September 8, two days after firing Hewitt. The company's growth was hurt by filing fraud charges made against several franchisees over the last two years. The publicity over the incidents hurt Liberty's ability to recruit area developers and franchisees.