Josh Charlesworth is the CEO of Krispy Kreme (Nasdaq: DNUT), the iconic global doughnut company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlesworth became CEO on January 1, 2024, after rising through the company from CFO (2017) to COO (2019) to Global President (2022). A British executive and chartered management accountant, he previously served as Global CFO of Mars Chocolate. Under his leadership, Krispy Kreme is executing a major turnaround plan focused on refranchising, margin expansion, and sustainable growth after exiting its McDonald’s partnership in mid-2025.
Read on to discover Krispy Kreme CEO email address, Josh Charlesworth net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, education, and more.
Quick Facts
| Josh Charlesworth — Key Information | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Josh Charlesworth |
| Age | ~50 (born c. 1975; graduated LSE 1997) |
| Position | President & CEO, Krispy Kreme, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNUT) |
| Tenure | January 1, 2024 – present |
| Education | B.Sc. Economics & Economic History, London School of Economics (1997); CIMA Chartered Management Accountant |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $5–10 million (equity-based) |
| Total Compensation (FY2024) | $2.51 million |
| Predecessor | Michael Tattersfield (CEO 2017–2024) |
| Headquarters | Charlotte, North Carolina |
| Email Domain | @krispykreme.com |
Career Highlights
- Krispy Kreme CEO (2024–present): Leading a comprehensive turnaround strategy including refranchising, balance sheet deleveraging, and margin expansion
- Krispy Kreme Global President (2022–2024): Oversaw global operations and strategic direction before stepping into CEO role
- Krispy Kreme COO & CFO (2019–2022): Dual role managing both operations and finance during the company’s 2021 IPO
- Krispy Kreme CFO (2017–2019): Joined as Chief Financial Officer under CEO Michael Tattersfield
- Mars Chocolate Global CFO (2015–2017): Oversaw finance for brands including M&M’s, Snickers, and Twix
- McDonald’s Partnership & Exit (2025): Made the tough decision to terminate the McDonald’s distribution deal citing $28.9M in unsustainable costs
Career Timeline
| Period | Role |
|---|---|
| Early career | Chartered Management Accountant, various finance roles |
| Jan 2015 – Apr 2017 | Global CFO, Mars Chocolate |
| May 2017 | Joined Krispy Kreme as CFO |
| May 2019 | Promoted to COO (added to CFO responsibilities) |
| Jun 2022 | Named Global President, Krispy Kreme |
| Jan 1, 2024 | Became President & CEO, Krispy Kreme, Inc. |
Josh Charlesworth Net Worth & Salary
As of early 2026, Josh Charlesworth’s estimated net worth is $5–10 million, based primarily on his Krispy Kreme stock holdings. According to SEC filings, Charlesworth beneficially owns approximately 1.04 million shares of DNUT stock directly, plus additional indirect holdings of roughly 282,000 shares through a Family LLC and 277,000 shares through a revocable trust. With DNUT trading around $3.50–$3.75 per share in early 2026, his total equity stake is valued at approximately $5.6 million.
His total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was $2.51 million, a significant drop from the prior year due to the company missing its Adjusted EBITDA growth targets — resulting in zero cash bonus payout. This represented a roughly 78% decline from his first-year package, which included large one-time equity grants upon his promotion to CEO.
Krispy Kreme CEO Compensation Breakdown (FY2024)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $999,039 | 39.8% |
| Annual Cash Bonus | $0 | 0% |
| Stock Awards (RSUs) | $1,000,012 | 39.8% |
| All Other Compensation | $511,404 | 20.4% |
| TOTAL | $2,510,455 | 100% |
Key Insight: Charlesworth received no cash bonus in FY2024 because Krispy Kreme did not meet its Adjusted EBITDA growth target. His equity awards are split between performance-based RSUs (tied to ROIC, leverage, and waste reduction targets over three years) and time-based RSUs vesting over five years — reflecting a strong alignment between CEO pay and company performance.
Krispy Kreme Financial Summary (FY2025)
Krispy Kreme’s fiscal year 2025 results reflect a company in the midst of a significant strategic transformation. While revenue declined due to deliberate actions — exiting the McDonald’s partnership and closing underperforming doors — the company expanded its adjusted EBITDA margin by 280 basis points and grew its system-wide sales to $2 billion.
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net Revenue | $1.5B | $1.69B | ▼ -8.6% |
| System-Wide Sales | $2.0B | — | — |
| GAAP Net Income (Loss) | ($523.8M) | $3.8M | ▼ Loss |
| Adj. EBITDA Margin | Expanded | Baseline | ▲ +280 bps |
| Avg. Revenue Per Door/Week | $660 | Lower | ▲ +4.5% |
| Stock Ticker | Nasdaq: DNUT | — | |
Turnaround Note: The large GAAP net loss of $523.8 million in FY2025 was primarily driven by non-cash impairment charges related to the McDonald’s partnership exit ($28.9M in lease termination costs, $22.1M in asset charges) and Insomnia Cookies divestiture. Adjusted metrics show meaningful operational improvement.
Josh Charlesworth Education & Early Life
Charlesworth earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 1997, one of the world’s top universities for social science and economics. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), a prestigious British professional qualification for management accounting.
His finance-first background is distinctive among restaurant and food-service CEOs. Charlesworth’s path from CFO to CEO — passing through COO and Global President roles — reflects a methodical, operationally grounded approach to leadership that is rare in the industry. Before joining Krispy Kreme, his tenure as Global CFO of Mars Chocolate gave him deep experience in the global confectionery and treats market.
Josh Charlesworth Personal Life
Charlesworth is British and is based in the Charlotte, North Carolina area near Krispy Kreme’s headquarters. He maintains a relatively private personal life. He has spoken at major industry events including the ICR Conference in January 2026 and has been featured on Yahoo Finance discussing Krispy Kreme’s expansion strategy.
His career has been spent entirely in the indulgent treats and confectionery sector — from Mars Chocolate (overseeing brands like M&M’s, Snickers, and Twix) to Krispy Kreme’s iconic doughnuts — making him one of the most experienced leaders in the global sweets industry.
How to Contact Josh Charlesworth
Krispy Kreme headquarters is located at 2116 Hawkins Street, Charlotte, NC 28203. The main phone number is (336) 725-2981. For business inquiries, the corporate email domain is @krispykreme.com (typical format: [email protected]). For investor relations inquiries, contact [email protected].
| Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Corporate HQ | 2116 Hawkins Street, Charlotte, NC 28203 |
| Phone | (336) 725-2981 |
| Email Domain | @krispykreme.com |
| Investor Relations | [email protected] |
| Company Website | krispykreme.com |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the current CEO of Krispy Kreme?
Josh Charlesworth has been President and CEO of Krispy Kreme since January 1, 2024, succeeding Michael Tattersfield who led the company through its 2021 IPO. Charlesworth rose through the ranks at Krispy Kreme, serving as CFO, COO, and Global President before taking the top role.
What is Josh Charlesworth’s background?
Charlesworth holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Economic History from the London School of Economics (1997) and is a Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA). He was Global CFO of Mars Chocolate before joining Krispy Kreme as CFO in 2017.
What is Josh Charlesworth’s salary?
Charlesworth’s total compensation for fiscal year 2024 was $2.51 million, including a $999,039 base salary, $1 million in stock awards, and $511,404 in other compensation. He received no cash bonus due to the company missing performance targets.
Is Krispy Kreme publicly traded?
Yes, Krispy Kreme trades on the Nasdaq under ticker symbol DNUT. The company went public in 2021 under previous CEO Michael Tattersfield.
What happened to the Krispy Kreme McDonald’s partnership?
Krispy Kreme and McDonald’s mutually agreed to end their distribution partnership in July 2025, citing “unsustainable operating costs” of $28.9 million. The partnership had placed Krispy Kreme doughnuts in approximately 2,400 U.S. McDonald’s locations but proved unprofitable.
How many Krispy Kreme locations are there?
After strategic closures of underperforming doors, Krispy Kreme’s global points of access decreased by 13.5% in 2025. The company is targeting expansion into three to four new countries in 2026 and at least 100 new shops worldwide.
Article last updated: March 5, 2026
Disclaimer: All information presented in this article has been compiled from publicly available sources, including SEC filings, official company press releases, and reputable news outlets. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.