Yum promotes David Gibbs to Pizza Hut global CEOYum promotes David Gibbs to Pizza Hut global CEO

Yum! Brands Inc. will promote David Gibbs to chief executive of its Pizza Hut global division on Jan. 1, succeeding Scott Bergren, who will retire at the end of 2014, the company said Monday.

Gibbs will retain leadership of the Pizza Hut U.S. division, where he now serves as president, Louisville, Ky.-based Yum said.

In his new role, Gibbs will oversee brand strategy for more than 13,000 restaurants outside of China and India, which are separate reporting divisions. Those restaurants, which are about 94 percent franchised, have annual systemwide sales of more than $10 billion.

“Greg Creed, who takes over as CEO of Yum! Brands in January, and I are both confident David will lead Pizza Hut to the next level and widen its gap as the category leader all around the world,” David C. Novak, Yum’s chairman and chief executive, said in a statement.

Gibbs will report directly to Creed.

Prior to serving as president of Pizza Hut U.S., Gibbs was president and chief financial officer for Yum! Brands International, leading finance, information technology and supply chain functions. He joined the company in 1989.

“I’m thrilled about continuing to work alongside my entire management team, as well as with our franchise and corporate partners, to move our brand forward all over the world,” Gibbs said.

Bergren, who will retire, has been with Yum, KFC and Pizza Hut for more than 20 years, including roles as chief marketing officer of KFC’s U.S. division and international leadership assignments in Central America and Mexico.

The company also said it will promote Tracy Skeans to president of Pizza Hut’s international division. She will report to Gibbs. Most recently, Skeans served as chief people officer for Pizza Hut’s global division.

Yum has more than 40,000 restaurants in more than 125 countries and territories.

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