Pizza Hut International, the Yum! Brands owned group, has restructured its European business with the aim of accelerating growth across the region.
The move sees Pizza Hut Europe and Pizza Hut UK & Ireland merged into one team.
Raphael Miolane, previously chief executive of Pizza Hut UK & Ireland, will take over as managing director of Pizza Hut Europe & UK. Neil Manhas, previously Pizza Hut UK & Ireland’s chief financial officer, has been appointed to the newly created role of general manager of Pizza Hut Delivery and Express UK.
The company said the restructure had “strengthened the business’s capabilities in brand strategy, growth and customer experience and will enable Pizza Hut to invest further in digital technologies across the European region”.
Manhas has held various roles within the business over more than a decade. Miolane joined Yum! in 2009 and was appointed chief executive of Pizza Hut UK & Ireland in January 2015.
Miolane said: “Across the European region, we are continuing to invest in our franchisees and to build our reputation as one of the most loved, and fastest growing, global brands. This is a really exciting time for our business and I am pleased to be working closely with Neil and our European leadership team to further our ambitions across Europe.”
“Neil’s enthusiasm and dedication to the UK business will be a driving force in the coming months and I am confident that he is the best person to lead our team and deliver our strategy for continued UK expansion.”
Manhas said: “I am delighted to be taking on the role of general manager and look forward to building on the outstanding work Raphael began in this market.”
“Pizza Hut is entering an exciting period and the priority for the UK market is to expand our franchisee estate, improve customer experience and develop our digital capabilities across the region. I am eager to work closely with our brilliant team of employees and franchisees to drive growth for a business I am deeply passionate about.”
Pizza Hut operates over 700 take away and restaurant units in the UK and Ireland. In the UK, Pizza Hut Delivery and Express combines company run stores and a strong franchise network, with over 80 franchise partners. Pizza Hut Restaurants is fully franchised, and was acquired by Rutland Partners in 2012.
Pizza Hut Europe & EU currently operates more than 1,400 restaurants across 25 countries.
