1851

<a href="https://www.yum.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Yum! Brands</a> CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-w-gibbs?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">David Gibbs</a> has announced his plan to retire in early 2026, capping off a remarkable 36-year career with the company. Gibbs, who became CEO at the end of 2019, has held numerous leadership roles at Yum! since joining in 1989, including COO, CFO and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pizzahut.com/international?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pizza Hut International</a>. The company’s board of directors has formed a succession planning committee to identify the next CEO, with Gibbs continuing to lead until the transition is complete in Q1 2026. “During my time as CEO and throughout my 36 years with Yum! Brands, it has been an honor to work alongside this incredibly talented team and our dedicated franchisees to build the most loved, trusted and connected restaurant brands around the world,” said Gibbs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331870458/en/Yum-Brands-Announces-Leadership-Transition-Plans-David-Gibbs-to-Retire-in-2026?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">in a press release</a>. “I set out to strengthen and broaden the appeal of our iconic brands, build industry-leading digital capabilities, dramatically accelerate the pace of profitable new unit development and amplify our people-first culture. I am pleased with the progress we have made on all fronts and know that Yum! Brands is now stronger and more resilient than ever. I look forward to supporting the next CEO candidate and ensuring the company is set up for continued success. In the meantime, my focus remains on executing our strategy and delivering against our growth commitments.”Gibbs’ leadership was marked by both crisis management and innovation. Just a few months into his tenure, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global operations, shuttering thousands of restaurants. In response, Gibbs waived his salary to support employees and accelerated digital transformation across Yum!’s brands. He spearheaded initiatives like contactless delivery and rapidly expanded digital ordering and payment systems. His vision pushed the company’s digital maturity ahead by years, with digital sales surpassing $30 billion in 2024 and accounting for over half of total sales.Under Gibbs, Yum! focused on expanding unit development, opening 4,535 new stores in 2024 alone and reaching over 61,000 locations globally. A major highlight of his tenure was the launch of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.yum.com/wps/portal/yumbrands/Yumbrands/news/press-releases/introducing+byte+by+yum+an+ai+driven+restaurant+technology+platform+powering+customer+and+team+member+experiences+worldwide?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Byte by Yum!</a>, a proprietary AI-powered platform that unifies key tech systems such as POS, ordering, delivery and labor management. Through a recent partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">NVIDIA</a>, Yum! is now pioneering AI innovation in the restaurant industry, integrating cutting-edge solutions to enhance Byte’s capabilities.Read the full press release&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250331870458/en/Yum-Brands-Announces-Leadership-Transition-Plans-David-Gibbs-to-Retire-in-2026?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.&nbsp; Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.1851growthclub.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company-2728998" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.1851growthclub.com</a> and start your journey.

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs to Retire in 2026 | Leadership Transition

1851 Franchise

From navigating the pandemic to spearheading AI-powered tech, Gibbs leaves behind a transformed Yum! poised for continued global expansion.

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

yum-brands-ceo-david-gibbs-to-retire-in-2026-after-36-years-with-the-company

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee franchise

Top 5 Reasons To Invest in Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Right Now

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-franchise-5-reasons-to-buy

Mister Sparky Electric

image of mister sparky cars franchise authority brands

Wired for Success: 5 Powerful Reasons To Invest in a Mister Sparky Franchise Now

mister-sparky-franchise-5-reasons-to-invest

image of Mister sparky electric employee working with customer

On-Time, Every Time: How Mister Sparky Delivers the Electrical Service Homeowners Can Count On

mister-sparky-electric-service-franchise

image of mister sparky electric on time elctricians from franchise mister sparky

The Electrician You Can Count On: How Mister Sparky Delivers Power, Punctuality and Profitability

mister-sparky-franchise-power-punctuality-profitiability

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee helping a customer

The Punctual Plumber That Wins: How Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Redefines Home-Service Reliability

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-home-service-reliability

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

Friendly’s Parent Company Acquired by Multi-Unit Franchisee as More Owners Take the Lead in Brand Acquisitions 

friendlys-parent-company-acquired-by-multi-unit-franchisee-as-more-owners-take-the-lead-in-brand-acquisitions

Subway - John Fitzpatrick Named CEO - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as New CEO, Effective July 28

jonathan-fitzpatrick-subway-ceo-leadership-change

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

Why This Real Estate Broker Decided To Bring Caring Transitions to Central Texas

Yum! Brands CEO David Gibbs To Retire in 2026 After 36 Years With the Company

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS