LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Yum! Brands, parent of Pizza Hut, announced Peter Hearl has been promoted to chief operating and development officer at Yum, making way for the appointment of Scott Bergren as president of the world's largest pizza company.
According to a news release, the reorganization included several new appointments at other Yum chains (read also Yum! Brands reorganizes U.S. business). All appointments will be effective Dec. 1.
Hearl joined the company in 1991 and has served in the top post at Pizza Hut for four years. He also has served as Yum's chief people officer and chief operating officer for Yum! Restaurants International. Prior to that, Hearl led the company's KFC and Pizza Hut businesses in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Asia Pacific region, while establishing the company's groundwork for success in India.
"Peter Hearl is the very best operator we have in our system and he is ideally suited for this important job," said David Novak, chief executive and chairman of Yum. "He has a demonstrated track record building great businesses around the world and has helped institutionalize our global operating platform and people-focused culture to dramatically improve customer satisfaction."
As president of Pizza Hut, Hearl introduced a number of highly successful new products and recently led a major repositioning of the brand to be launched in 2007. He also is credited with building the Pizza Hut-WingStreet multibrand concept into the single largest wings brand worldwide.
During Bergren's foodservice career, he successfully ran the Pizza Hut businesses in Mexico and Central America, and previously headed Round Table Pizza and Chevy's Mexican Restaurants. Most recently, Bergren was the executive vice president, chief marketing and food innovation officer for Yum. He helped introduce the "Chicken Capital USA" advertising campaign and a number of successful new products, including the 99-cent Snacker and KFC's Famous Bowls.
"Scott Bergren is a true brand builder and concept leader," Novak said. "His combination of consumer insights and business acumen will take our Pizza Hut turnaround strategy to the next level, building sustainable brand growth for the long-term."
