Papa John’s has appointed Chris Collins as interim Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, following the departure of Ravi Thanawala, who is leaving the company to become CFO at another publicly listed company.
Thanawala will remain in an advisory role through July 31, 2026, to support the leadership transition while PapaJohn’s searches for a permanent CFO.
Collins currently serves as Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance and Principal Accounting Officer and brings more than three decades of finance leadership experience across public companies in the United States and Europe. Since joining Papa John’s in 2021, he has held several senior finance roles, including serving as interim CFO in 2023. Before joining the pizza chain, Collins held treasury leadership positions at Signet Jewelers, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, and American Axle & Manufacturing.
“Chris is a proven finance leader with deep knowledge of the company and the opportunities we are pursuing to maximize shareholder value,” said Todd Penegor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Papa John’s. “I am confident that Chris and our leadership team will continue executing our transformation priorities.”
Collins said he looks forward to working with the executive team to improve operating efficiency, optimize the restaurant network, and strengthen the Papa John’s brand.
Alongside the finance leadership change, Marc Richard, Senior Vice President of North America Operations, has assumed responsibility for all North American operations, including responsibilities previously overseen by Thanawala in his role as President.
The appointments come as PapaJohn’s continues its broader transformation strategy focused on improving operational performance, strengthening franchise operations, and driving long-term shareholder value.
The company will report its second-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results on August 6, followed by a conference call with investors led by CEO Todd Penegor and interim CFO Chris Collins.
