Topgolf Entertainment Group on Tuesday named Artie Starrs CEO, making the Pizza Hut chief executive responsible for driving the golf company’s growth down the fairway under new owner Callaway Golf.
Starrs had been global CEO of the 18,000-unit Pizza Hut since 2019, when he was promoted from his role overseeing its U.S. unit. He will take over at Topgolf next month.
Starrs will take the helm of a concept that had been on the cutting edge of combining entertainment, notably sports and gaming, with restaurants—only to watch the pandemic alter that outlook, at least temporarily. That wasn’t enough to dissuade Callaway, the golfing equipment maker, from buying Topgolf last year.
Chip Brewer, Callaway’s CEO, said in a statement that Starrs’ “leadership, track record of driving a global brand with a focus on operations and franchising, and digital transformation experience will add great value to the innovative team at Topgolf.”
Topgolf also noted that Starrs is connected to the Dallas community, where the chain is based: He sits on the boards of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, The First Tee of Dallas, The Tartan Board at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital and Big Thought. The First Tee is a nonprofit organization that introduces golf to young people.
Starrs is joining a brand that was valued at $2.5 billion in the purchase last year. Topgolf operates 63 locations across the globe and more than half of its customers are not golfers. Topgolf customers typically use the venues’ giant locations to hit golf balls into designated areas for points while they dine from the chain’s casual-dining menu.
Callaway just completed its purchase of Topgolf earlier this month. Starrs will succeed Dolf Berle as CEO, who had previously announced plans to look for opportunities outside the company following the sale.
“I could not think of a better time to join this brand, with so much momentum as we head into the future,” Starrs said in a statement.
Yum Brands, which owns Pizza Hut, said it is searching for a successor and that the chain’s U.S. and International presidents will report directly to Yum CEO David Gibbs. “We appreciate Artie’s strong leadership, commitment to culture, and countless contributions to the Pizza Hut brand over seven-plus years,” the company said in a statement. “We wish him well in the next chapter of his career. We are conducting a search and the backfill will be subject of a future announcement.”
UPDATE: This story has been updated to add Yum Brands’ statement.
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