Director since 1997 | Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President, Yum! Brands, Inc.
David C. Novak became Chairman of the Board on January 1, 2001, and Chief Executive Officer of Yum! on January 1, 2000. He also serves as President of Yum!, a position he has held since October 21, 1997. He previously served as Group President and Chief Executive Officer, KFC and Pizza Hut from August 1996 to July 1997, at which time he became acting Vice Chairman of Yum!. He also held senior management positions at Pepsi-Cola Company, including Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales.
Novak shapes the company's overall strategic direction, including four key growth strategies: 1) build leading brands across China in every significant category; 2) drive aggressive international expansion and build strong brands everywhere; 3) dramatically improve U.S. brand positions, consistency and returns; and 4) drive industry-leading, long-term shareholder and franchisee value. Additionally, he devotes much of his time each year to personally train leadership skills to the company's management and franchisees, emphasizing teamwork and a belief in people that rewards and recognizes customer-focused behavior.
Novak is a director of JPMorgan & Chase Co., the Yum! Brands Foundation and The Friends of the World Food Program. Additionally, he is a member of The Business Council and The American Society for Corporate Executives, while also devoting considerable personal support to the United Nations World Food Programme and Dare to Care Food Bank hunger relief. He is also the recipient of the national 2008 Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship. |