KFC parent taps appoints new CEO

The new CEO is the current Chief Financial & Franchise Officer of the group.

Yum! Brands, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected Chris Turner, 50, as CEO, effective October 1, 2025.

Turner, who currently serves as Chief Financial & Franchise Officer for Yum! Brands will succeed current Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs, who, in March 2025, informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire in the next year after 37 years with the company

“I’m deeply honoured to step into the role of CEO at Yum! Brands and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this global company with such iconic brands,” said Turner. “I want to sincerely thank David Gibbs for his exceptional leadership and partnership. I’m excited to build on all that we’ve accomplished together alongside our talented teams and in partnership with our franchisees around the world, as we innovate, grow our brands and continue delivering exceptional experiences for our consumers.”

Turner has served as Yum! Brands' Chief Financial Officer since 2019 and expanded his role to include Chief Franchise Officer in 2024, with responsibilities for finance, corporate strategy, supply chain, franchise standards and support. In recent years, he has been instrumental in driving bold actions that leverage Yum!’s scale, such as accelerating the Company’s digital and technology transformation through initiatives like the establishment of Byte by Yum!, an AI-driven restaurant technology platform; launching a centralized, global Supply Chain Center of Excellence; and the creation of Saucy by KFC, a bold new restaurant concept.

He has worked closely with Gibbs and the entire Yum! Brands leadership team to drive growth through unit development, deliver strong shareholder returns and foster a people-first culture of collaboration.

Meanwhile, Gibbs served as Yum! Brands’ CEO since January 2020. As CEO, Gibbs was instrumental in architecting and leading the Company’s digital transformation and tripled the pace of Yum! Brands’ annual net new unit development, leading to nearly 61,000 restaurant units worldwide. During Gibbs’ tenure, digital sales surpassed US$30b in 2024, with over 50% of sales through digital channels.

Gibbs remains CEO until September 30, 2025, and will serve as an adviser to the Company until the end of 2026 to ensure a seamless transition.