• Christina Jackson will serve as Donatos’ chief people officer starting August 29 and report directly to the chain’s president.
• Part of her job will be to develop a “strong, inclusive, diverse people plan” while creating innovative strategies for the chain.

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Donatos Pizza, with 422 locations in 26 states, has added a new key member to its leadership team: Christina Jackson will serve as the chain’s chief people officer starting August 29.

Kevin King, Donatos’ president, said Jackson’s “vast experience in various strategic leadership roles in the people services field will guide us in our daily focus of being a preferred workplace where every associate is encouraged to be their authentic self.”

Jackson, who will report directly to King, will be charged with creating innovative strategies for the chain and developing a “strong, inclusive, diverse people plan” while enhancing the company culture.

With more than 20 years of experience in corporate sales, financial services, higher education, healthcare and retail, Jackson has held several strategic leadership roles. Most recently, she worked at Designer Brands (the parent company of DSW, Vince Camuto and The Shoe Company), where she served as that company’s first-ever leader of diversity, equity and inclusion.

She’s described as “an inspirational servant leader who masterfully builds relationships, leans into her work with curiosity and moves beyond traditional ways of doing things to positively impact people, culture and, ultimately, operational performance.”

Jackson lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two children. She said Donatos has played an integral part in her fondest family memories since childhood. “I feel honored to have the opportunity to leverage my background and experiences to help lead and support Donatos on the road to becoming a billion-dollar company,” she said.

Jackson earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Cincinnati and her MBA degree from Capital University. She has certifications as a diversity professional and executive coach and gives back to the community through her role with the Girls on the Run Central Ohio’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Committee as well as through Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Donatos and its franchise partners operate 170 traditional restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Florida. Donatos’ products are also served in 252 non-traditional locations, including 242 Red Robin restaurants.