Papa Murphy's International, America's take 'n' bake pizza leader and fifth largest pizza chain in the U.S., today announced the company's President Ken Calwell will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer, effective December 31, 2011. Current CEO John Barr will remain Papa Murphy's Chairman of the Board and will hand over day-to-day executive duties to Calwell. "Under Ken's leadership Papa Murphy's will continue on its successful growth path," said Barr. "I am confident in his ability to build on our momentum and sustain our strong consumer rankings; I look forward to focusing my chairman's duties on guiding the brand's strategic growth."
Under Barr's seven-year tenure as CEO, Papa Murphy's saw system store count increase by 500 (nearly 1,300 stores today), grew year-over-year U.S. systemwide sales by more than 80%, and secured over a dozen best-in-class national awards recognizing the chain’s products, service, value and franchise owner satisfaction.
