David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands, announced his plans to retire in the first quarter of 2026. At 62 years old, Gibbs has dedicated 36 years to the Louisville, Kentucky-based company, which is the largest restaurant corporation globally. Yum Brands owns popular chains like Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Habit Burger & Grill, with over 61,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries.
Gibbs will continue to lead the company while a search for his successor is underway.
Since becoming CEO in January 2020, Gibbs has guided Yum Brands through the challenges of the pandemic and subsequent recovery. He emphasized global expansion, with the company opening 4,535 new locations across 100+ countries in 2024—more than double the 2,040 new stores opened in 2019.
Gibbs also prioritized technological advancements, recently securing an industry-first partnership with Nvidia. This collaboration aims to enhance automated ordering at drive-thrus and call centers and improve operational efficiency through advanced computing in restaurants.
Yum’s board praised Gibbs for his transformative leadership, highlighting his significant impact on the company’s growth and innovation. Before becoming CEO, Gibbs served as the head of the Pizza Hut division (2015-2016) and held key roles as chief financial officer and chief operating officer.
