Yum Brands has promoted Joe Park to the role of chief digital and technology officer, reporting to CFO Chris Turner. The move will be effective March 1. Park previously served as chief digital and technology officer for Pizza Hut Global, and he succeeds Clay Johnson in the Yum-wide role. Johnson will continue to serve the company as a senior advisor.
Jason Triail | Photo courtesy of Yum Brands.
Another Yum brand, The Habit Burger Grill, named Jason Triail as the new director of culinary innovation. Triailpreviously led culinary training at Yard House and has been involved in several entrepreneurial ventures.
“Culinary-led innovation has always been at the heart of Habit’s food philosophy, and Chef Jason Triail brings a fresh perspective that aligns seamlessly with our commitment to providing a variety of quality, made-to-order choices,” said CMO Jack Hinchliffe in a statement.
At KFC, Thuthuka Nxumalo has been named chief operations officer for the U.S., effective Feb. 5. He will report to Tarun Lal, KFC U.S.’s president. Nxumalo comes to the domestic division from KFC Africa, where he has been COO for three years.
“Thuthuka is a seasoned operator with a proven track record of driving operational best practices,” said Lal, in a statement. “With his ability to identify opportunities for rapid improvements and rally teams to provide exceptional service, I am confident Thuthuka is the right leader to drive a winning guest experience for KFC U.S.”
Christophe Poirier | Photo courtesy of Yum Brands
In addition, Christophe Poirier in February will join KFC U.S. as chief new concept officer, also reporting to Lal. Poirier has been with Yum since 2005 and spent the last eight years with Pizza Hut, most recently as global chief brand officer.
John Owen | Photo courtesy of Scooter's Coffee.
And at a non-Yum chain, Scooter’s Coffee has brought in John Owen as chief operating officer, as well as Susan Tegt as chief legal officer.
In his 36 years in the restaurant industry, Owen has served in a variety of roles at McDonald’s, and he is a previous president and CEO of Subway Russia, where he worked with franchisees to double the size of the brand there to more than 700 units. Most recently, he was president of tech company Acrelec Americas.
Tegt is a franchise attorney who previously supported Scooters as outside counsel with Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd.
Sterling Hospitality in Atlanta has promoted two team members.
Ben Krawiecki | Photo courtesy of Brandon Amato
Ben Krawiecki, formerly the research and development manager at Marlow’s Tavern since 2008, is the new director of culinary and purchasing.
Mike Fickett | Photo courtesy of Sterling Hospitality.
In addition, Mike Fickett has been named director of support and client relations. Fickett has been with Sterling since 2015 and served most recently as senior learning and development manager.
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