Published on April 30, 2010
Exhibit
99.1
For
more information, contact:
Chris
Sternberg
Senior
Vice President, Corporate Communications
502-261-4934
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
PAPA
JOHN’S NAMES JUDE THOMPSON
CO-CEO
ALONG WITH FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN JOHN SCHNATTER
LOUISVILLE,
Ky. (April 29, 2010) – Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today
announced the promotion of company President and Chief Operating Officer Jude
Thompson to co-Chief Executive Officer, along with Founder and Chairman John
Schnatter.
“I am
delighted that Jude and I will continue our work together, now as co-Chief
Executive Officers,” commented Schnatter. “This appointment recognizes the
partnership we have developed since I rejoined the day-to-day management of the
company in December 2008, and allows us to divide CEO-level responsibilities in
a way that our Board agrees plays to our respective strengths.”
Mr.
Schnatter will continue to focus on the company’s sourcing of ingredients,
distribution, product quality and serving as brand spokesperson, while Mr.
Thompson will be responsible for all other aspects of the day-to-day running of
the business.
“John is
the face of this brand and is passionate about delivering a superior-quality
product to our customers,” commented Thompson. “I am excited about continuing to
work alongside John, as well as with our franchise and corporate operators and
management team, to continue to move our brand forward.”
Mr. Schnatter
created the Papa John's concept and has served as Chairman and CEO, or in other
executive capacities, since his founding of the company in 1984.
Mr.
Thompson joined the Papa John’s Board of Directors in 2008 and was appointed
Papa John’s President and Chief Operating Officer in April 2009. From 2006 to
2008, he served as Senior Vice President of WellPoint, Inc., and President,
Individual Business, of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Headquartered
in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the
world's third largest pizza company. For nine of the last 10 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. For more information
about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John's at www.papajohns.com.