Todd Penegor is the President & CEO of Papa John’s International (Nasdaq: PZZA), appointed in August 2024. A seasoned QSR executive, Penegor previously served as President & CEO of The Wendy’s Company from 2016 to 2024, where he launched Wendy’s breakfast nationally and grew the chain to the #2 burger position in the U.S. He holds an MBA from Michigan State University and brings over three decades of experience across Ford Motor Company, Kellogg, and Wendy’s. Under Penegor’s leadership, Papa John’s operates over 6,000 restaurants across 50 countries with $4.92 billion in global systemwide sales.
Read on to discover Papa John’s CEO email address, Todd Penegor net worth in 2026, salary and compensation, career history, education, and more.
Quick Facts
| Todd Penegor — At a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Todd Allan Penegor |
| Age | 60 years old (born July 17, 1965) |
| Position | President & CEO, Papa John’s International (Nasdaq: PZZA) |
| Tenure | August 2024 – present |
| Previous Role | President & CEO, The Wendy’s Company (2016–2024) |
| Education | B.A. Accounting & MBA, Michigan State University (Eli Broad College of Business) |
| Net Worth (Est.) | $20–35 million |
| Base Salary | $1,000,000 |
| Total Compensation | ~$5.4 million (annualized) |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Email Domain | @papajohns.com |
| Wife | Jill Penegor |
Career Highlights
- Named President & CEO of Papa John’s International in August 2024, succeeding Rob Lynch who departed to lead Shake Shack
- Led The Wendy’s Company as President & CEO (2016–2024), launching Wendy’s breakfast nationally and growing the chain to #2 in U.S. burgers
- Spent 13 years at Kellogg Company (2000–2013), rising to President of U.S. Snacks and CFO of Kellogg Europe
- Started career at Ford Motor Company (12 years) in corporate strategy and mergers & acquisitions
- Won 2017 Michigan State Eli Broad College Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and 2018 Gold Stevie Award for Executive of the Year (Food & Beverage)
- Board member of Dutch Bros Inc. (NYSE: BROS)
- Grew up with the restaurant business — his father Ron Penegor built and ran the first Wendy’s franchise in Iron Mountain, Michigan for 22 years
Todd Penegor Net Worth & Salary
As of 2026, Todd Penegor’s net worth is estimated at $20–35 million, reflecting accumulated compensation and equity from his long career at Ford Motor Company, Kellogg, The Wendy’s Company, and now Papa John’s International. At Wendy’s, his total compensation exceeded $6.7 million annually, and he accumulated significant stock holdings over his eight-year tenure as CEO.
At Papa John’s, Penegor’s employment agreement (effective July 31, 2024, through June 30, 2028) provides a base salary of $1,000,000, an annual cash incentive target of 150% of base salary ($1.5 million), and annual equity awards with a target grant-date fair value of $5 million (prorated to $2.5 million for 2024). He also received a $1.25 million sign-on bonus in restricted stock and a $250,000 transition bonus.
Papa John’s CEO Compensation Breakdown
| Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $1,000,000 | Annual minimum per employment agreement |
| Annual Cash Incentive (Target) | $1,500,000 | 150% of base salary at target |
| Annual Equity Awards (Target) | $5,000,000 | Long-term incentive program ($2.5M prorated in 2024) |
| Sign-On Restricted Stock | $1,250,000 | 100,000 shares; vests over 3 years |
| Transition Bonus | $250,000 | One-time; paid after Dec. 31, 2024 |
| Relocation Benefits | $150,000+ | Plus standard executive relocation package |
| Total Estimated Annual Compensation | ~$5.4–7.5M | Depending on incentive attainment |
Key Insight: Over 80% of Todd Penegor’s compensation at Papa John’s is performance-based (annual incentive + equity), aligning his interests with shareholder returns. His employment agreement runs through June 30, 2028.
Papa John’s International Financial Summary (FY2025)
Papa John’s International reported full-year 2025 results in February 2026, showing flat revenues at $2.1 billion and continued global restaurant expansion to over 6,000 locations across 50 countries.
| Metric | FY2025 | FY2024 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Revenues | $2.1B | $2.06B | ▲ Flat |
| Global Systemwide Sales | $4.92B | $4.85B | ▲ +1% |
| Net Income | $32.1M | $84.2M | ▼ -62% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $201.1M | $227.3M | ▼ -12% |
| Diluted EPS | $0.90 | $2.54 | ▼ -65% |
| Global Restaurants | 6,083 | 6,030 | ▲ +53 net |
| NA Comparable Sales | -2% | -4% | ▲ Improving |
| Intl Comparable Sales | +5% | -1% | ▲ Strong growth |
| Stock Ticker | Nasdaq: PZZA | — | |
2026 Outlook: Papa John’s projects adjusted EBITDA of $200–$210 million, with North America comparable sales declining 2–4% and international sales growing 2–4%. The company plans AI-powered ordering features and menu innovation under Penegor’s leadership.
Todd Penegor Education & Early Life
Todd Allan Penegor was born on July 17, 1965, and grew up in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in the state’s Upper Peninsula — making him a proud “Yooper.” His connection to the restaurant industry began at home: his father, Ron Penegor, was an accountant who built and ran the first Wendy’s franchise in Iron Mountain for 22 years. His mother’s name is Nancy Penegor.
Penegor earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting (1987) and an MBA in Finance (1989) from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. In 2017, he received the Eli Broad College Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award. He and his wife Jill later donated $250,000 to the Broad College, naming the Todd and Jill Penegor Large Team Room in the Edward J. Minskoff Pavilion.
Career Timeline
| Period | Role | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 1989–2000 | Various Finance & Strategy Roles (12 years) | Ford Motor Company |
| 2000–2008 | VP Finance & CFO, Kellogg Europe | Kellogg Company |
| 2008–2013 | President, U.S. Snacks Division | Kellogg Company |
| 2013–2016 | SVP & CFO → EVP & CFO → President & CFO | The Wendy’s Company |
| May 2016–Feb 2024 | President & Chief Executive Officer | The Wendy’s Company |
| Feb–Aug 2024 | Brief retirement | — |
| Aug 2024–Present | President & Chief Executive Officer | Papa John’s International |
Ford Motor Company (1989–2000)
Penegor launched his career at Ford Motor Company immediately after completing his MBA at Michigan State. Over 12 years, he held various finance roles including positions in corporate strategy and mergers & acquisitions, building a strong foundation in financial management and corporate planning.
Kellogg Company (2000–2013)
In 2000, Penegor joined Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan, where he spent 13 years rising through the ranks. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Kellogg Europe before being named President of Kellogg’s U.S. Snacks division in 2008, overseeing brands like Pringles, Cheez-It, and Keebler.
The Wendy’s Company (2013–2024)
Penegor joined Wendy’s as Senior Vice President & CFO in 2013. He was promoted to Executive Vice President & CFO in 2014, then to President & CFO in early 2016. In May 2016, he was named President & CEO. Key accomplishments during his eight-year tenure include:
- Launching Wendy’s breakfast nationally in 2020, now a $1B+ revenue stream
- Growing Wendy’s to the #2 burger chain in the U.S.
- Expanding international operations significantly
- Winning the 2018 Gold Stevie Award for Executive of the Year (Food & Beverage)
Papa John’s International (2024–Present)
After a brief retirement following his departure from Wendy’s in February 2024, Penegor was named President & CEO of Papa John’s International in August 2024, succeeding Rob Lynch who left to lead Shake Shack. He is overseeing a strategic transformation including menu innovation, AI-powered ordering technology, and continued international expansion.
Todd Penegor Personal Life
Todd Penegor is married to his wife Jill Penegor. Together, they have been active philanthropists, making significant donations to Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. Personal family details beyond his marriage are kept relatively private.
Penegor grew up in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in the state’s Upper Peninsula, earning him the nickname “Yooper.” His father Ron’s career as both an accountant and Wendy’s franchisee deeply influenced Todd’s path into both finance and the restaurant industry. In a remarkable full-circle moment, Todd went on to become CFO and then CEO of the very same company his father franchised.
Todd Penegor Fun Fact
The Penegor family has now been associated with leadership at two of America’s largest fast-food chains. Todd’s father Ron built and ran the first Wendy’s restaurant in Iron Mountain, Michigan for 22 years. Todd himself rose from CFO to CEO of Wendy’s, then was recruited to lead Papa John’s — making the Penogors one of the few families with multi-generational leadership ties across major QSR brands.
How to Contact Todd Penegor — Papa John’s CEO Email
Papa John’s International headquarters is located at 2002 Papa Johns Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30341. The main corporate phone number is (502) 261-7272. The corporate email domain is @papajohns.com, with the standard format being [email protected]. For investor relations inquiries, contact [email protected].
| Todd Penegor — Contact Information | |
|---|---|
| Email (Corporate) | [email protected] |
| Corporate HQ | 2002 Papa Johns Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30341 |
| Phone | (502) 261-7272 |
| Investor Relations | [email protected] |
| Twitter/X | @toddpenegor33 |
| Todd Penegor on LinkedIn | |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is the CEO of Papa John’s in 2026?
Todd Penegor has been President & CEO of Papa John’s International since August 2024. He replaced Rob Lynch, who left to become CEO of Shake Shack. Penegor previously served as President & CEO of The Wendy’s Company from 2016 to 2024.
What is Todd Penegor’s salary at Papa John’s?
Penegor’s base salary at Papa John’s is $1,000,000 per year. His total annual compensation is estimated at $5.4–7.5 million, including a 150% annual cash incentive target ($1.5M) and $5 million in annual equity awards. He also received a $1.25 million sign-on bonus in restricted stock.
What is Todd Penegor’s net worth in 2026?
Todd Penegor’s net worth is estimated at $20–35 million, reflecting accumulated compensation and equity from his career at Ford Motor Company, Kellogg, The Wendy’s Company, and Papa John’s International.
What did Todd Penegor do before Papa John’s?
Penegor was President & CEO of The Wendy’s Company from 2016 to 2024, where he launched Wendy’s breakfast nationally and grew international operations. Before Wendy’s, he spent 13 years at Kellogg Company and 12 years at Ford Motor Company.
Where did Todd Penegor go to college?
Penegor earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting (1987) and an MBA in Finance (1989) from Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business. He received the Eli Broad College Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award in 2017.
Is Papa John’s profitable?
Yes. Papa John’s reported net income of $32.1 million in FY2025 on total revenues of $2.1 billion. The company operates 6,083 restaurants across 50 countries with global systemwide sales of $4.92 billion.
Article last updated: March 2026
All information compiled from publicly available sources including SEC filings, corporate press releases, and verified news reports. Net worth figures are estimates and may vary by source. This content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.