LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced the
resignation of J. Jude Thompson as President, Co-Chief Executive Officer
and member of the Board of Directors. Thompson, who has been a director
of Papa John's since 2008 and an officer of the company since 2009, is
leaving to spend time focusing on his interests in Arison Insurance
Services, a Louisville-based insurance agency, and to pursue other
opportunities.
"We thank Jude for his service to Papa John's," commented John H.
Schnatter, the Company's Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
"We've accomplished a lot during his three years with the company and we
wish him well."
Thompson is a principal and co-founder of Assurance Investment Partners,
Inc., owner of Arison Insurance Services, a full-service insurance
brokerage firm. Prior to joining Papa John's, he had 20+ years in the
insurance industry, including serving as Senior Vice President of
WellPoint, Inc. and President, Individual Business of Anthem Blue Cross
and Blue Shield.
With Thompson's departure, Schnatter, 49, will assume sole
responsibility for the chief executive officer role, while also
continuing to serve as Chairman of the Board. He created the Papa John's
concept in 1984 and also serves as brand spokesperson.
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc.
is the world's third largest pizza company. For 10 of the past 11 years,
consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer satisfaction among
all national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index
(ACSI). Papa John's also was honored by Restaurants & Institutions
Magazine (R&I) with the 2009 Gold Award for Consumers' Choice in Chains
in the pizza segment. Papa John's is the Official Pizza Sponsor of the
National Football League and Super Bowl XLV, XLVI and XLVII. For more
information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa
John's at www.papajohns.com.
Papa John's International, Inc.
Chris Sternberg
Senior Vice
President, Corporate Communications
502-261-4934
Source: Papa John's International, Inc.
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