The Yum Brands board of directors has announced it has unanimously elected Chris Turner as chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1.

Turner, who currently serves as chief financial and franchise officer for Yum Brands, will succeed current CEO David Gibbs, whom, in March, informed the board of directors of his intention to retire in the next year after 37 years with the company.

“I’m deeply honored 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,” says 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' CFO 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 actions to leverage Yum’s scale, the company says, 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 new restaurant concept.

“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead Yum! Brands and work with such passionate, talented people across our global system throughout my almost 37 years with the company,” says Gibbs. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together and am confident that the best is yet to come. During my time partnering with Chris, he’s demonstrated deep knowledge of our business, strong values and a clear commitment to our growth. I can’t think of a better person to guide Yum! into its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting a smooth and successful transition.”

Gibbs has 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. Gibbs also successfully navigated the company through the COVID pandemic and an increasingly complex operating environment. During Gibbs’ tenure, digital sales surpassed $30 billion in 2024, with over 50% of sales through digital channels.

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

“On behalf of the board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to David Gibbs for his outstanding visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he’s made on Yum Brands,” says Brian Cornell, non-executive chairman of the Yum Brands board of directors. “David led the company during unprecedented times all while strengthening, transforming and growing the business, with Chris as a key partner.

“During his tenure, Yum delivered strong performance and advanced its growth strategy that has helped attract and retain the best talent in the industry. We are thrilled to appoint Chris as the next CEO—a proven leader with a deep understanding of the business, strategic expertise, financial acumen and unique perspectives that will help accelerate our growth. The board is confident that Chris is the right leader to take Yum Brands forward and accelerate the company’s momentum.”

Turner’s career has spanned leadership roles for major global brands like PepsiCo and its sub-brands. Prior to joining Yum Brands, Turner led PepsiCo’s retail and e-commerce business with Walmart in the U.S. and more than 25 countries, and across PepsiCo’s brands in the beverage, snack, and nutrition categories. He also spent more than 13 years with McKinsey & Co., where he served as partner in the firm’s Dallas office and led the service operations practice in North America, the restaurant service line, the retail operations team and recruiting for all Southern U.S. offices.

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