• Aaron Powell is the former president of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s Asia Pacific consumer business.
  • Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs said Powell is “known for driving break-through innovation and delivering strong performance for iconic household name brand.”

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As Pizza Hut continues to modernize and reenergize its brand, the chain has a new CEO to lead the way. Parent company Yum! Brands announced recently it has named Aaron Powell, former president of Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s Asia-Pacific consumer business, to the position, left vacant after Artie Starrs left Pizza Hut in April.

Powell will assume global responsibility for driving Pizza Hut Division’s growth strategies, franchise operations and performance.

“We couldn’t be happier to welcome Aaron to the Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut family and believe this global brand division leadership structure will enable the Pizza Hut U.S. and international teams to further implement best practices worldwide and continue their growth trajectory for franchisees and shareholders,” said Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs, to whom Powell will report.

“Aaron brings more than 25 years of deep experience in the business-to-business and consumer packaged goods sectors and is known for driving break-through innovation and delivering strong performance for iconic household name brands operating in complex environments around the world,” Gibbs added.

As president of Kimberly-Clark’s Asia-Pacific consumer business, Powell was responsible for the company’s largest international region, with operations in more than 30 countries, covering Australia, China, India and South Korea. Prior to that, he led the Kimberly-Clark Professional business globally, including a wide range of commercial products and services. He led the company’s consumer business in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and served as managing director of its consumer business in Central and Eastern Europe.

Powell previously spent four years with Bain & Company, one of the world’s largest strategic management consulting firms. He also worked for eight years in sales leadership and brand management roles at Procter & Gamble. He holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree from Washington University. He currently serves on the board of directors for Sherwin-Williams.

“The chance to join an iconic, powerhouse global brand like Pizza Hut, combined with the backing of a world-class and culture-rich company like Yum! Brands, created an opportunity I knew I had to be a part of and simply couldn’t pass up,” said Powell. “I’m excited to work with Kevin and Vipul and can’t wait to begin working alongside and building relationships with such a talented team of employees and franchisees around the world.”

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