Papa Johns appoints MOD Pizza exec Mark Shambura as new CMOPapa Johns appoints MOD Pizza exec Mark Shambura as new CMO

Joanna Fantozzi

Papa Johns International, Inc. announced Tuesday the appointment of Mark Shambura as the pizza chain’s new chief marketing officer, replacing Anne Fischer, who was originally appointed in 2022 and departed earlier this year.

Before joining Papa Johns, Shambura was the chief marketing officer of fast-casual chain MOD Pizza, where he scaled digital and product innovation and grew omnichannel brand engagement for the fast-growing company for four and a half years. Before that, Shambura held multiple marketing leadership positions at Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he rose through the ranks for five years, ending up as vice president and executive director of marketing of the company, where he helped spearhead the “real ingredients” brand strategy.

“Mark joins our Papa Johns team with over two decades of marketing experience, including a decade with restaurants, where he’s delivered impactful marketing strategies with a digital-first, analytics-led approach,” Rob Lynch, president and CEO of Papa Johns said in a statement. “Mark’s consumer-centric mindset will be critical as we continue to enhance every single touchpoint of the customer experience – from our digital channels to our menu to our brand – to drive engagement and growth.”

Related:Papa Johns adds Doritos Cool Ranch Papadia to the menu

In his new role, Shambura will oversee brand and advertising, menu strategy, product innovation, and the digital cross-channel customer experience, including the brand’s loyalty program.

“Papa Johns is the most exciting brand in the pizza category, with high brand recognition, an innovation track record, and tremendous opportunity for growth in the U.S. and globally,” Shambura said in a statement. “[…] Papa Johns has consistently set itself apart with its premium positioning. In addition, I’m excited to join a team that emphasizes the importance of culture and lives its core values.”

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