Yum! Brands Announces CEO Succession Plan to Drive Next Chapter of Global Growth 

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected David Gibbs as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2020, and appointed him to the Company’s Board, effective November 1, 2019. Gibbs, 55, who currently serves as Yum! Brands President and Chief Operating Officer and oversees the global KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell divisions, will succeed Greg Creed, 62, who has announced his decision to retire at the end of 2019 after a successful 25-year career with the Company.

“I’ve had the privilege of partnering with our franchisees to grow the three iconic brands within the Yum! Brands portfolio for over 30 years and am honored to follow in Greg’s footsteps,” Gibbs said. “It's thanks to Greg’s terrific leadership and innovative brand building during some of the most pivotal moments in our history that Yum! Brands has emerged as...

Yum! Brands Appoints Taco Bell Division and Pizza Hut Division Chief Executive Officers 

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced that it has appointed Taco Bell Division and Pizza Hut Division Chief Executive Officers who each will assume global responsibility for driving their respective brand’s growth strategies, franchise operations and performance. With today’s announcement, each of the Company’s three global brand divisions will be led by a Chief Executive Officer.

Mark King, 60, former President of adidas Group North America, will join the Company as Taco Bell Division Chief Executive Officer, reporting to David Gibbs, President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Yum! Brands. King brings to Taco Bell and Yum! Brands extensive retail experience and an excellent track record driving growth, innovation, brand relevance and culture. In addition, Artie Starrs, 42, President of Pizza Hut U.S., is being promoted to...

Yum! Brands Names Chris Turner as Chief Financial Officer

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced that Chris Turner, 44, will join the Company as Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Greg Creed, effective August 8, 2019. In this role, Turner will assume global responsibility for finance, corporate strategy, supply chain and information technology.

Turner joins Yum! Brands from PepsiCo, where he most recently served as Senior Vice President and General Manager leading PepsiCo’s retail and ecommerce businesses with Walmart in the U.S. and more than 25 countries and across PepsiCo’s brands in the beverage, snack and nutrition categories. Today’s announcement...

Yum! Brands Reports First Quarter Results 

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today reported results for the first-quarter ended March 31, 2019. Worldwide system sales excluding foreign currency translation grew 8%, with 7% net-new units and 4% same-store sales growth. First-quarter GAAP EPS was $0.83, a decrease of (35)%. First-quarter EPS excluding Special Items was $0.82, a decrease of (8)%.

Greg Creed Comments

Greg Creed, CEO, said, “The third and final year of our transformation is underway and I’m thrilled with the progress towards our commitment to becoming a more focused, more franchised, and more efficient growth company. First-quarter results were a solid start to the year, reflecting particular strength at the KFC division and Taco Bell U.S. With this quarter, we have a healthy foundation to...

Watch the Throne: BK Challenges KFC over Chicken Crown

Yum! Brands Promotes David Gibbs to President and Chief Operating Officer

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced the promotion of David Gibbs, 55, to President and Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Chief Executive Officer Greg Creed. Gibbs, a 29-year veteran of the Company, has served as President and Chief Financial Officer for the last two years. In his expanded role as President and COO, Gibbs will assume operating leadership of global KFC Division as well as the U.S. and international businesses of Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, with the respective brand leaders reporting to him. Gibbs will retain his current Yum! Brands CFO role, title and responsibilities overseeing corporate strategy, finance, supply chain and information technology, while the Company conducts a search to identify a successor CFO.

“I’m happy to announce our promotion of David Gibbs to President and Chief Operating Officer. David is an extraordinarily talented commercial leader with a strong track record of results and deep experience in all three of ...

Pizza Hut U.S. to Acquire Online Ordering Provider QuikOrder

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Acquisition of Long-Time Pizza Hut Technology Partner Expands Digital Ordering Capabilities

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM), today announced that its U.S. business has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire QuikOrder, a leading online ordering software and service provider for the restaurant industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it marks one of Pizza Hut's largest acquisitions to date.

By acquiring QuikOrder's online ordering capabilities, Pizza Hut U.S. will improve its ability to deliver an easy and personalized online ordering experience and accelerate digital innovation across its base of more than 6,000 restaurants in the U.S. In 2018, approximately half of Pizza Hut U.S. sales were ...

KFC Introduces Chicken & Waffles to the Menu

Fried chicken from the experts + one-of-a-kind Belgian Liege-style waffles = Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles

Kentucky Fried Chicken(R) -- the original chicken purveyor-- is making a formerly upscale brunch favorite available to everyone with the introduction of its new Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, available for a limited time only. With Kentucky Fried Chicken & Waffles, you can forget the reservations, long lines and expensive checks and get back to what really matters: the food.

"Our famous extra crispy, savory fried chicken atop a Belgian Liege-style waffle, with the finishing touch of classic Mrs. Butterworth's syrup, makes for a scrumptious dish I'd put up against versions at upscale restaurants, but we're offering it at a price just about anyone can afford. And it can be enjoyed at KFCs across the country for brunch, lunch or dinner...

Tony Lowings Promoted to KFC Division CEO, Effective January 1, 2019

Lowings Will Succeed Roger Eaton Who is Retiring

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) on Friday announced the promotion of Tony Lowings, 60, to KFC Division Chief Executive Officer, reporting to Yum! Brands Chief Executive Officer, Greg Creed, effective January 1, 2019. Lowings, a 24-year veteran of the Company, who currently serves as KFC Division President and Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Roger Eaton who is retiring at the end of 2018.

In this new role, Lowings will assume global responsibility for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC. KFC is the world’s most popular chicken restaurant brand with more than $24 billion in global system sales and more than 21,000 restaurants in over 130 countries and territories as of year-end 2017. General Managers of KFC around the world (including KFC U.S.) as well as leaders of KFC’s global functions, will report to Lowings effective January 1.

“Tony Lowings is an outstanding leader with deep knowledge of our business and a strong track record of growing KFC’s presence and strengthening the brand’s competitive position with our franchise partners in markets around the world,” said Creed. “As a proven and highly respected strategic brand builder...