SVP Corporate Communications Chris Sternberg named General Counsel; Tim O'Hern returns as Senior Vice President of Development
Louisville, Ky., (// BUSINESS WIRE //) -- Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced the appointment of Senior Vice President Corporate Communications Chris Sternberg to the additional position of General Counsel. Sternberg has been with Papa John's since 1994 holding positions of increasing responsibility with the company, including most recently Interim General Counsel since December 2008. Sternberg will report to Papa John's President and Chief Operating Officer, Jude Thompson.
The company also announced the return of Tim O'Hern as Senior Vice President, Development, a position he previously held with Papa John's from 2005 to 2007. From 1997 to 2002, O'Hern was Vice President, Development for Papa John's, during which time he oversaw the opening of approximately 1,400 company-owned and franchised Papa John's restaurants. O'Hern will report to Bill Mitchell, President, USA.
Chuck Schnatter, formerly the company's General Counsel and most recently Chief Development Officer, is transitioning to a new role as Managing Director of Special Projects. In his new role, Schnatter will also report to Mitchell and focus his efforts on franchise transfers, workouts and restaurant portfolio management.
Lance Tucker has been named Chief of Staff and Vice President of Strategic Planning, reporting to company President and Chief Operating Officer Jude Thompson. In this role, Tucker will oversee strategic planning for the company, as well as assist Thompson and company Founder and Chairman John Schnatter with projects.
"I have the utmost confidence in Chris, Tim, Chuck and Lance," said Thompson. "Each executive's vast experience within the Papa John's system will be a tremendous asset to the company. I'm confident in their ability not only to help us deliver on our 'Better Ingredients, Better Pizza,' brand promise but also to lead our company to new heights."
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's is the world's third largest pizza company. For nine of the last 10 years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the highly regarded American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John's also ranks first among pizza companies in the 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index, was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine (R&I) with the 2008 Silver Award for Consumers' Choice in Chains in the pizza segment, and was named 2007 Pizza Today Chain of the Year.
SOURCE: Papa John's International, Inc.
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