Papa Johns has appointed Jenna Bromberg as chief marketing officer, effective Nov. 14, the company announced in a press release. Bromberg, who joins the pizza chain from retailer Carter’s, will oversee Papa Johns’ marketing strategy, brand development, digital customer experience and creative initiatives, as well as its product innovation pipeline. She will report directly to Papa Johns CEO Todd Penegor and serve on the executive leadership team.
One of Bromberg’s tasks at Papa Johns is using data to inform creative campaigns in ways that will elevate the brand with both existing customers and new ones, per the release. Other top marketing mandates for Papa Johns at the moment are improving its perception around value and building out experiences related to digital and loyalty.
“Jenna is an experienced marketing leader in the restaurant, franchising and retail industry. She has been recognized for transformative brand campaigns and deep consumer insights,” said Penegor of the CMO appointment on a call discussing Papa Johns’ Q3 results with analysts. “Our teams will surely benefit from her unique blend of quick services, restaurant and modern retail marketing expertise that she brings to this room.”
While Bromberg spent several years at Carter’s, most recently acting as vice president of brand marketing and creative for the kid-focused apparel marketer, her joining Papa Johns is positioned as a full-circle career moment. Bromberg was previously director of core marketing at Pizza Hut, a rival chain where she worked for more than five years.
Papa Johns is attempting to break out of a slump, with comparable sales in North America declining 6% year over year in Q3, the result of a “very challenging consumer environment,” Penegor said in a statement attached to the earnings report. Bromberg’s hire extends a larger executive shuffle at Papa Johns.
Penegor himself is a recent addition, having taken on the chief executive mantle in August. A former Wendy’s executive, Penegor quickly brought over talent from his last gig. Kevin Vasconi, who was chief information officer at the burger chain under Penegor, was named Papa Johns’ chief digital and technology officer in September.
Bromberg replaces Mark Shambura, who jumped to Panera Bread as CMO in late July. Shambura was Papa Johns’ top marketer for a little over a year, but undertook several large initiatives, including a revamp of the brand’s signature “Better Ingredients, Better Pizza” messaging platform. Shambura was also responsible for an agency shakeup, shifting creative duties to The Martin Agency and media to Carat.
