News

Yum moves Walmart tech leader into CIO slot, names KFC exec chief strategy officer

Pictured left to right: Incoming Yum Brands Chief Digital/Technology Officer Clay Johnson and Chief Strategy Officer Gavin Felder. (Photos provided)

September 18, 2019

Walmart tech leader, Clay Johnson, will be joining Yum! Brands, Inc. next month as chief digital and technology officer, while the company said it has promoted its KFC division CFO Gavin Felder to chief strategy officer, effective Dec. 1. The positions are both focused on global growth and customer experience improvements at its KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell brands, a news release said. 

Johnson will begin his new role on Oct. 15 and comes to the company from his former position as executive vice president and enterprise CIO at Walmart. At Yum Brands he will be responsible for global technology strategy to provide what the company said will be a "best-in-class" digital operations across the three brands' mobile, online, delivery and restaurant operations. 

The release said that Johnson will lead a coordinated, cross-brand effort to accelerate the company's digital commerce strategy, use of data and advanced analytics and emerging technologies to enhance the customer and employee experience. Johnson has more than 20 years of technology leadership across Fortune 50 companies and industries.

In his position as chief strategy officer for the company, Felder will oversee development of Yum! Brands' long-term corporate strategies, as well as partner with global brand divisions to implement growth and innovation initiatives. He will work closely with Johnson to integrate technology-centered solutions across store operations, including the restaurant automation strategy. 

Felder has been the KFC division CFO for five years, and will retain that role through the end of the year, while a search is underway for his successor.

 "We believe Clay Johnson and Gavin Felder are the ideal executives to accelerate Yum! Brands' growth through technology-centric strategies that advance the customer experience and ultimately deliver better economics and more value for our franchisees and shareholders," said Yum Brands President and COO and incoming CEO David Gibbs in the release. 

"Clay's insights into developing connected digital commerce capabilities and integrated enterprise solutions will be invaluable as we strengthen our business model with technology at the forefront. Gavin is a successful digital leader and proven growth strategist at KFC, our largest and most profitable global brand division."