Pizza Hut is transforming its marketing department, aiming to reignite passion for the brand and regain market share. The company recently announced two key changes: Karen Thornton as global chief brand officer and Melissa Friebe as U.S. chief marketing officer.
Marketing veteran Thornton takes control of the world
Mr. Thornton will lead Pizza Hut's global brand strategy across 110 markets and territories. Thornton, who previously served as vice president of marketing for PepsiCo North America, sports and entertainment, has a proven track record of building brand affinity through strategic partnerships and content creation. He is also known for his successful CMO of Gatorade. Prior to entering the beverage business, Thornton held multiple marketing leadership roles over his nearly 10 years with the Nike and Jordan brands, where he was instrumental in leading transformational efforts for the brands.
Pizza Hut CEO Aaron Powell is confident that Thornton's expertise will be a perfect fit with the brand's goals. “Karen is a visionary and proven leader who understands how to create memorable moments for consumers,” Powell said in a statement. “We are excited to have him join our team and help take Pizza Hut to the next level.”
Thornton himself is enthusiastic about the opportunity. “We believe that creativity, community and culture bring people together,” he said. “We are honored to contribute to Pizza Hut's long tradition as a brand that connects across these dimensions, and we are excited to help shape the future resonance and growth of this iconic brand.”
Freebe brings Taco Bell knowledge to U.S. market
In the US, Melissa Friebe will take the helm as CMO, drawing on a wealth of experience from her colleagues at Yum!. Brand chain Taco Bell. Friebe is moving from her role as Taco Bell's chief brand strategy officer, a role she held for nearly 30 years. She replaces Lindsey Morgan, who retired after eight years with Pizza Hut.
Change of leadership due to changes in sales environment
The move follows the recent appointment of Carl Loredo as Pizza Hut's new U.S. president. Loredo previously spent more than eight years at Wendy's, where he helped grow the chain's digital sales business and helped make Burger King the nation's second-largest burger chain.
With these management changes, Pizza Hut hopes to reverse its recent sales slump. Last quarter, the pizza chain saw same-store sales decline 7% due to lagging demand in both domestic and international markets.
