Papa John’s International Inc. has given Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie the additional title of president, the company said Thursday.
Ritchie will work with CEO John Schnatter to continue to develop the brand worldwide.
“We are fortunate to have a proven leader in Steve to assume the additional role of president of the company,” Schnatter said in a statement. “He shares my passion for quality and is an outstanding operator and leader for our company and entire system.”
Ritchie was named COO last year, when he took over for Tony Thompson, the former president and chief operating officer who left to take a job as CEO of Krispy Kreme.
Schnatter held the title of president for more than a year before ceding that title to Ritchie.
Ritchie started with Papa John’s as a customer service representative at the company in 1996, when he made $5 an hour. He served in various capacities of increasing operations leadership since 2010. He also has been a Papa John’s Pizza franchise owner and operator in the Midwest division since 2006.
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