Black executive Aaron Powell earns $4.7-million salary from Yum! Brands in 2022

One of America’s top Black executives, Aaron Powell, the CEO of Pizza Hut, an operating division of Yum! Brands Inc. — an American multinational service restaurant company, received a compensation package of $4.7 million from the global quick-service restaurant company, which ranked 521st on the Fortune 1000 in 2022.

Powell, leading the Pizza Hut Division of Yum!, received a compensation package that includes a base salary of $0.8 million. Additionally, he received a long-term incentive award amounting to $1.58 million from the Louisville-based leading fast-food restaurant company.

Yum! — the Kentucky-based quick-service restaurant giant known for delighting customers with iconic brands such as KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and The Habit Burger Grill — operates with 1,500 franchisees running more than 55,000 restaurants in over 155 countries and territories.

Innovation and expansion: Powell’s leadership elevates Pizza Hut to 19,034 locations worldwide

Powell, who joined Pizza Hut in 2021, has been instrumental in driving the pizza giant’s global growth strategies, franchise operations, and performance. With over 14 years of experience at Kimberly-Clark, Powell brings a wealth of expertise in corporate strategy, M&A, sales, marketing, e-commerce, and operations, renowned for his ability to spark innovation and deliver stellar results for household brands.

His impact at Pizza Hut has been undeniable. In 2022, his first full year with the company, Pizza Hut opened a staggering 1,584 new stores worldwide, bringing its total footprint to an impressive 19,034 locations. This expansion contributed significantly to a 3.92-percent year-over-year revenue increase for Pizza Hut’s parent company, Yum! Brands, which reached $6.84 billion in 2022, up from $6.58 billion in 2021

Beyond the balance sheet: Powell’s investment in Yum! Brands

Under Powell’s joint leadership, Yum! Brands saw a remarkable 74.2-percent profit surge, from $904 million in 2021 to $1.58 billion in 2022. However, assets dipped 2.01 percent, from $5.97 billion to $5.85 billion in the same fiscal year.

Beyond his executive roles, Powell, known for his innovative strategies in adapting to customer preferences and technological advancements, holds a minority 0.0038-percent stake in Yum!, representing 10,733 ordinary shares. At current market prices, this translates to a roughly $1.4-million investment.