 Photo: piter2121 - stock.adobe.com He succeeds current CEO David Gibbs, who informed the Board of Directors of his intent to retire in March. Gibbs has been with the company for 37 years. Turner has served as the company's CFO since 2019 and expanded his role to include chief franchise officer in 2024. He has worked closely with Gibbs and the entire Yum! Brands leadership team to drive growth through unit development, deliver strong shareholder returns and foster a people-first culture of collaboration. He previously served in leadership roles for brands like PepsiCo and its sub-brands. He also spent more than 13 years with McKinsey & Co., where he served as Partner in the firm's Dallas office and led the Service Operations practice in North America, the Restaurant Service Line, the Retail Operations team and recruiting for all Southern U.S offices. "I'm deeply honored to step into the role of CEO at Yum! Brands and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this global company with such iconic brands," Turner said in the press release. "I want to sincerely thank David Gibbs for his exceptional leadership and partnership. I'm excited to build on all that we've accomplished together alongside our talented teams and in partnership with our franchisees around the world, as we innovate, grow our brands and continue delivering exceptional experiences for our consumers." Gibbs said it has been a privilege to lead Yum Brands. "I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together and am confident that the best is yet to come. During my time partnering with Chris," he added in the press release. "He's demonstrated deep knowledge of our business, strong values and a clear commitment to our growth. I can't think of a better person to guide Yum! into its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting a smooth and successful transition." Brian Cornell, non-executive chairman of the Yum Brands board of directors, said the board extended its gratitude to Gibbs "for his outstanding visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he's made on Yum Brands. "David led the Company during unprecedented times all while strengthening, transforming and growing the business, with Chris as a key partner. During his tenure, Yum! delivered strong performance and advanced its growth strategy that has helped attract and retain the best talent in the industry. We are thrilled to appoint Chris as the next CEO — a proven leader with a deep understanding of the business, strategic expertise, financial acumen and unique perspectives that will help accelerate our growth. The Board is confident that Chris is the right leader to take Yum! Brands forward and accelerate the Company's momentum." Yum Brands operates nearly 61,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries, including brands like Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger and Grill. Yum Brands promotes Chris Turner to CEO |
