Papa John’s reshuffles senior leadership, appointing Ravi Thanawala as CFO, North America President

NORTH AMERICA – Papa John’s International has announced a senior leadership reshuffle, appointing Ravi Thanawala as the new chief financial officer (CFO) and president of its North America division.

Thanawala, previously the company’s CFO and international executive vice-president, will now lead North America’s development strategies and restaurant operations alongside his finance responsibilities.

Chris Lyn-Sue has been promoted from senior vice-president (SVP) and head of international markets to SVP and international general manager.

Both leaders will report directly to Papa John’s CEO and president, Todd Penegor, with immediate effect.

Thanawala joined Papa John’s in 2023 from Nike, where he held roles including CFO of Nike North America and global CFO of Converse.

He also served as global vice-president of retail excellence, overseeing performance across franchises, licenses, and direct-to-consumer channels. Previously, he worked at apparel retailer Ann Inc.

Penegor praised Thanawala as a proven leader whose disciplined approach to operational execution, product innovation, and cost management has driven growth internationally.

“We are confident that Ravi is the right person to navigate current challenges in North America and accelerate transformation to create greater value for shareholders, customers, and franchisees,” said Penegor.

Thanawala briefly served as interim CEO from March to August 2024. Meanwhile, Papa John’s chief restaurant and global development officer Joe Sieve is exiting the company.

These management changes follow reports that hedge fund manager Irenic Capital Management acquired a stake in Papa John’s during Q3 2025.

While activist investors often advocate for strategic shifts, it remains uncertain if Irenic plans specific interventions at Papa John’s, according to Reuters.

The leadership realignment signifies Papa John’s focus on strengthening its executive team to drive growth and address competitive challenges in key markets.

These appointments align with Papa John’s strategy to leverage technology and data analytics to enhance customer experience and drive sales growth.

The company reported a 7.8% increase in same-store sales in North America in Q3 2025, reflecting successful product innovation and digital order growth of over 15%.

These leadership moves and performance trends underscore Papa John’s commitment to accelerating its turnaround and expanding market share.

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