Papa John’s International Promotes Steve Ritchie as New CEO

Pizza delivery company Papa John’s International announced changes starting with January 1, with the appointment of  new CEO Steve Ritchie.

Ritchie, 43, started with Papa John’s in 1996 as a customer service representative. In 2006, he became a Papa John’s franchise owner and operator, then in 2010 began serving in increasing capacities of leadership in operations, until being promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2014. Ritchie was added to the succession plan for the company’s top job in 2015 when he was named president, according to the announcement made by the company.

As CEO, Ritchie will lead Papa John’s global development and facilitate the brand’s marketing, digital and customer experience evolution. Recent hires of Mike Nettles as Chief Information and Digital Officer, Brandon Rhoten as Chief Marketing Officer and the addition of a digital-first creative agency of record, Laundry Service, underpin the brand’s emphasis on digital marketing and technology. But the company’s primary focus will be on its team members, says Papa John’s, as98% of its restaurant managers are promoted from hourly positions – delivery drivers, customer service team members and shift managers – within the company.

On the other hand, Papa John’s International continued its expansion internationally with the signing of a development agreement for the Bahamas.

PPJ Bahamas signed a development agreement to open five restaurants over the next 36 months in the Bahamas, with the first store scheduled to open in Nassau mid-2018. John Wilson, Chief Executive Officer for PPJ Bahamas, says that is an opportunity to bring the Papa John’s brand to the Bahamian market.