Pizza Hut’s chief brand officer out after less than two years
Pizza Hut US’s chief brand officer, Marianne Radley, has left the company after 22 months in the job, the company has confirmed.
Marianne Radley joined Pizza Hut in February 2018
In a statement, a spokesperson from parent company Yum Brands said: “Marianne Radley is no longer with Pizza Hut US. We appreciate her contribution to the brand and wish her well.”
They added the future of her role will be the subject of a future announcement.
Radley joined the business in February 2018 after a stint as Monster Energy’s senior vice-president of global marketing. She was appointed to the chief brand officer role after Pizza Hut named Zipporah Allen as chief marketing officer in January 2018.
The brand subsequently ended its two-year relationship with Droga5 shortly after.
Meanwhile, Allen departed to become vice-president, brand marketing for sister company Taco Bell in April 2019.
Radley was responsible for directing brand strategy, marketing and advertising efforts, customer acquisition, food innovation and culinary initiatives for Pizza Hut US business. Earlier this year she led a drive to bring back its original geometric ‘roof’ logo and a “confident and unapologetic” tone of voice after naming GSD&M agency of record in June 2018.
She also inked a multiyear deal with the NFL after the league severed ties with Papa John’s in the wake of chief executive John Schnatter's comments regarding protesting players. In an interview with CNN in September, Pizza Hut’s chief executive, Artie Starrs, said the sponsorship had helped it “increase brand awareness and reach a new audience we hadn't had previously”.
However, Pizza Hut reported flat same-store sales in Q3 2019, missing Wall Street estimates of 1.5% growth.
“There is always unfinished business ... And for us that unfinished business includes consistently enhancing the customer experience by ensuring that we have the best people, technology and assets,” said Yum Brands’ chief executive, Greg Creed, on the third quarter earnings calls.
“And this unfinished business is probably most pronounced at Pizza Hut US.”
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