Pizza Hut APAC names new MD with extensive marketing background

Yum! Brands has appointed Unnat Varma (pictured) as managing director of Pizza Hut Asia Pacific. He was previously managing director of Pizza Hut India subcontinent. The role was last held by the current president of Pizza Hut International, Vipul Chawla. Varma has been with Yum! since 2006. He began as director of marketing with KFC India Subcontinent, a role he held for five years, before moving on to a general manager position with Taco Bell where he remained for four years. He then moved to Pizza Hut, helming the same role for another four years before taking on the MD role for the India subcontinent.  Prior to joining Yum!, he worked with Gillette in India for 12 years across sales and marketing functions. Marketing has reached out to Yum! Brands for comment, and understands Varma will be based in Singapore. In October last year, Chawla took on an international role as president of Pizza Hut International. The move sees him reporting to Yum! Brands CEO Greg Creed and assume responsibility for driving the brand strategy and performance of Pizza Hut’s international business outside the US. General managers of Pizza Hut around the world (excluding the US) as well as leaders of Pizza Hut International’s global functions will report to Chawla. He also takes over from Milind Pant, who steps down end November after three years in the role to pursue other opportunities outside the company. Chawla joined Yum! in 2011 after spending 20 years with Unilever serving in various leadership positions. Read more: A slice of truth: Why Pizza Hut’s social faux pas could have happened to you QSR and foodpanda join hands to expand delivery networks of KFC and Pizza Hut Pizza Hut reinforces belief that passion makes things better