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Pizza Hut names Joe Kim COOPizza Hut names Joe Kim COO

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

February 27, 2013

1 Min Read
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Pizza Hut Inc. has named Joe Kim chief operations officer, effective immediately, the company said Wednesday.

Kim succeeds Amanda Fleming, who left the Plano, Texas-based company more than a year ago.

Kim most recently was senior vice president for strategy and growth at San Antonio-based Valero Energy Corp., where he worked for 15 years. Before joining Valero, Kim spent several years with Arthur Andersen Business Consulting.

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At Pizza Hut, Kim will be responsible for operations including speed to market, management and emphasis on restaurant quality.

“Joe is well suited to this new role at Pizza Hut, having extensive multi-unit operations leadership experience from consulting and the convenience store industry,” said Scott Bergren, Pizza Hut’s chief executive and president, in a statement.

“His background and accomplishments have given him a uniquely broad business perspective and have left him distinctively well prepared to lead our operations team,” Bergren added.

Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., has more than 10,000 restaurants in more than 90 nations. Pizza Hut also operates about 4,000 Wingstreet restaurants.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

 

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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