The leadership transition comes as Penegor also joins the company’s board of directors. Credit: Papa John’s International, Inc./ Business Wire.

Papa John’s International appointed Todd Penegor as its new president and CEO in early August 2024 with immediate effect.

This leadership transition comes as Penegor also joins the company’s board of directors.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

He takes over from Ravi Thanawala, interim CEO since March 2024, who will maintain his position as chief financial officer.

Penegor previously served as the president and CEO of The Wendy’s Company. His leadership at Wendy’s was marked by significant growth in sales and earnings, and the expansion of the brand’s global presence, with more than 7,000 restaurants now operating worldwide.

Penegor said: “I am honoured to serve as chief executive officer of Papa John’s and work with the board, our dedicated team members and franchisees to usher in the company’s next chapter.

“By consistently delivering on the “Better Ingredients. Better Pizza” brand promise, Papa John’s already has the best pizza in the industry.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

“I am committed to providing exceptional customer experiences across all of our offerings and touchpoints to ensure we unlock the full potential of Papa John’s differentiated market position.”

Before his tenure at Wendy’s, Penegor held key roles at the Kellogg Company and the Ford Motor Company.

Papa John’s chair Christopher Coleman said: “Todd’s appointment as president and chief executive officer successfully concludes an extensive search to identify a proven leader who has the experience, skills and vision to achieve the full potential of the Papa John’s brand and accelerate growth.

“Todd has an outstanding record of leading winning teams and scaling franchised operations globally through trusted partnerships, product innovation and digital transformation.

“He has also demonstrated his ability to effectively allocate capital, drive value and enhance profitability. We are excited to welcome Todd to Papa John’s and look forward to his contributions as we work to create significant, sustainable value for our shareholders and franchisees.”