Dunkin Taps New Ceo

(Tuesday, December 09, 2008) - Dunkin' Brands Inc. is planning tomorrow to tap Nigel Travis, who resigned last week as chief executive of pizza giant Papa John's International Inc., to lead the Canton, Mass. company, according to three executives briefed on the matter.

Travis, who served at the helm of Papa John's since 2005 and previously headed Blockbuster Inc., will officially take over in January as chief executive of the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains, said the executives who could not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.

"We wanted someone with a strong consumer background and someone who has an ability to bring strong managerial experience to bear on a company that continues to have a strong growth trajectory even in this difficult environmet," said an executive at one of the investment firms that owns Dunkin'. "Nigel met those two requirements and we're very excited about the opportunity to work with him."

In a statement released tonight, Dunkin' chief global communications officer Stephen J. Caldeira
said: "As part of Dunkin"™ Brands"™ strong corporate governance practices, Chairman and CEO Jon Luther has been working closely with our Board of Directors on succession planning since early 2008. We have no specifics about that plan to announce at this time."

Travis, reached this evening by phone at his home in Louisville, Kentucky, would not confirm or deny the planned announcement. In a company statement last week, Papa John's said Travis was leaving "to pursue another opportunity" but did not specify the job. Travis, in the statement, had agreed to continue his employment through Dec. 30th. A spokeswoman for Papa John's, the third largest US pizza chain, declined comment.

View all Dunkin' Donuts Press Releases

This article has been read 201 times.

Printer Friendly