Pizza franchise, Papa John’s has appointed Justin Gilbert as its new director of business development in the UK.

Gilbert has almost 20 years’ experience in the pizza industry, having worked for both Domino’s and Pizza Hut.  He will now be responsible for Papa John’s retail portfolio including store construction, acquisition plus franchise recruitment, overseeing a team based at the company’s UK Quality Control Centre (QCC) in Milton Keynes.

Liz Williams, UK managing director, Papa John’s said:  “I am delighted that Justin is joining our Leadership Team in Milton Keynes.  His wealth of experience will add tremendous value as we continue to grow the business in the coming years.”

Gilbert, added: “I am excited about the direction of Papa John’s in the UK.  My team will be concentrating on further improving ROI for stores and taking advantage of untapped market opportunities to meet the needs of customers nationwide as we continue to develop the brand.”

Justin Gilbert started his ten-year career with Domino’s in the US where he held positions in both marketing and operations. In addition to his  experience in the States, he has also held roles within its international business supporting Master Franchisees across Europe. During his time with Domino’s International, he was responsible for a portfolio of 1000+ stores and 15+ markets. In 2014, he moved to the UK to serve as head of operations for Domino’s Pizza Group, the master franchisee for the UK and Ireland.   In 2016, he joined Yum! Brands as a member of its leadership team in the role of director of operations for Pizza Hut Delivery, responsible for the operations, standards, and training of 420 Pizza Hut Delivery and Express units, both equity and franchised.

Papa John’s is currently one of the largest pizza companies in the world.