Papa Johns International has announced that Chief Financial Officer and President of North America operations, Ravi Thanawala, resigned effective June 30, 2026. Thanawala is departing to accept the CFO position at apparel retail giant American Eagle Outfitters. To ensure a smooth transition, he will remain with Papa Johns in an advisory capacity until July 31, 2026, while the company initiates a search for a permanent successor.
Chris Collins, the current Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Principal Accounting Officer, has been appointed as interim CFO. Concurrently, Marc Richard, Senior Vice President of North America Operations, will take over direct oversight of North American corporate operations. Thanawala leaves behind a significant legacy, having joined Papa Johns in July 2023 and leading the company as interim CEO during a critical transition period in mid-2024.
Thanawala’s departure comes as Papa Johns continues to implement its “Back to Better” corporate strategy, which focuses on menu innovation, digital-first marketing, and international franchise development. The pizza sector faces significant tailwinds from changing consumer habits, forcing brands to invest heavily in proprietary delivery networks and third-party delivery integrations (such as DoorDash and UberEats) to protect market share against local competitors.
For B2B investors, this executive transition represents a pivotal moment for Papa Johns. The incoming permanent CFO will need to balance the costs of international expansion with the need to support domestic franchise profitability amid high cheese and labor costs. The market will monitor the company’s Q3 performance to evaluate how the transition affects its North American franchise pipeline and digital development initiatives.
