Pizza Hut promotes head of marketing to the board

Pizza Hut is poised to promote Simon Wallis, head of retail marketing at the fast food chain, to marketing director. He has been covering the role since the departure of former marketing director Martin Pugh last November.

It is understood that Pizza Hut has not been actively seeking a replacement for the role, as it was keen to give Wallis a chance to prove himself as the interim replacement.

He joined the company from KFC, in November 2003 (MW November 6, 2003).

Pugh, a former Safeway marketing chief, left the role without a job to go to after just a year. It is understood that he left after deciding that it was not the right job for him. His departure followed a number of major changes including a review of its advertising and media arrangements. He appointed Wieden & Kennedy and Starcom.

He also increased the company’s focus on innovation and new product development. According to a trading statement for the six months to the end of 2005 from joint-owner Whitbread, the chain has been struggling in the UK.

Over the last year it has launched a variety of new products including the 4forAll, a pizza with four individual toppings and The Big New Yorker.