<p>LOUISVILLE, Ky., July 21, 2026 – Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced that Nai De Leon has been appointed Chief People & Culture Officer, effective November 1, 2026. </p>
<p>As Chief People & Culture Officer, De Leon will lead Yum!'s global People & Culture strategy, overseeing Talent, Leadership Development, Total Rewards, Organizational Effectiveness and People Operations across the company's global business. She will report to Yum! Chief Executive Officer Chris Turner and serve on the Yum! Brands Global Leadership Team. </p>
<p>De Leon joined Yum! Brands in August 2025 as Chief Talent & Centers of Excellence Officer leading the company's global People & Culture strategy, as well as the Total Rewards, Learning & Development and Talent Acquisition Centers of Excellence. She has partnered closely with leaders across the company to strengthen talent development, organizational effectiveness and advance the capabilities needed to support Yum!'s long-term growth. </p>
<p>"Nai is an exceptional leader with deep expertise in talent, organizational transformation and leadership development, and she has already made an impact on our business since joining Yum!," said Turner. "Working closely with Tracy and our People and Culture Leadership Team, she has strengthened our talent strategy and built the capabilities that will help us Raise the B.A.R. and power Yum!'s next chapter of growth. Her proven ability to develop leaders, shape culture and drive transformation makes her the ideal person to lead our global People & Culture organization." </p>
<p>Prior to joining Yum!, De Leon spent 20 years with Bain & Company, where she advised global organizations on large-scale transformations, growth strategy, organizational performance and change management. She also led many of Bain's recruiting and leadership development initiatives, helping shape talent practices across the firm. During her nearly decade-long partnership with Yum! as an adviser, she worked closely with the Global Leadership Team on strategic growth and transformation initiatives, providing her with a deep understanding of Yum!'s business, culture and long-term strategy. </p>
<p>Nai succeeds Tracy Skeans, who recently announced her plans to retire after more than 25 years at Yum!, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer and Chief People & Culture Officer.</p>
<p>"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Yum!'s Chief People & Culture Officer," said De Leon. "Our people and culture are a tremendous competitive advantage, and I'm excited to build on the strong foundation Tracy and our team have established. I look forward to continuing to develop exceptional leaders, strengthen our culture and help our teams around the world unlock their full potential." </p>
<p><b>About Yum! Brands</b></p>
<p>Yum! Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries franchise or operate more than 63,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories under its iconic brands — KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are global leaders in the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, respectively. Habit is a fast-casual concept known for fresh, cooked-to-order food. </p>
<p>Fueled by Yum!’s Recipe for Good Growth, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut led Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 rankings and its Top Global Franchises 2025 list. In 2026, Yum!’s unrivaled culture and talent led it to be named one of TIME magazine’s list of Best Companies for Future Leaders for the third consecutive year. </p>
<p>When Dan Shacklett first agreed to help finish a fence on Angie Clark’s Kentucky farm, he thought he was lending a hand. He didn’t realize he was stepping into a future that would include thousands of feet of fencing, three horse-related businesses and, eventually, a wedding.</p>
<p>“She had 16 unfenced acres, so I went to help,” Shacklett said. “I didn’t know I was going to put up 2,700 more feet of fence all by myself. That’s how I knew it was love.”</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/f68fcc7f-9c88-4a9d-96ff-3c6448622302/1/IMG_6736.jpeg?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" width="520" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p>This fall, Shacklett will marry Clark, and together they run Royal Creek Farm, where they board horses, manage a breeding program and build custom pieces for the equestrian community. Their third venture, Red Oak Customs, grew out of Shacklett’s lifelong ability to make and fix things. He builds everything from picture frames and signs to horse tack trunks and show-ready barn setups.</p>
<p>That hands-on skill also serves him in his day job at Yum! Brands, where Shacklett is a building and facilities supervisor at the company’s Restaurant Support Center (RSC) in Louisville, Kentucky. His role is part project manager, part problem solver, making sure his team knows that his door is always open if they have a personal issue or need advice.</p>
<p>Shacklett’s days are long, starting at 3:45 a.m., tending to the horses before hitting the gym and then sitting down at his computer by 5:30 a.m. He tries to leave the office around 3 p.m., then heads straight to Royal Creek Farm. There, he feeds the horses, checks the creek and makes sure debris hasn’t caught in the fencing or gates. After that, he heads to the garage to work on customer orders for Red Oak Customs. By 8 p.m., he stops to eat dinner, watch the news and get a few hours of sleep before doing it all again.</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/f68fcc7f-9c88-4a9d-96ff-3c6448622302/2/ChatGPT+Image+Jul+14%2C+2026%2C+02_18_18+PM.png?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" width="620" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<h6><em>Original pieces by Red Oak Customs.</em></h6>
<p>Foaling season can make that already full schedule even more unpredictable. There have been times Shacklett called his coach, Yum! Corporate Services Manager Royce Blevins, to say he’ll be late — not because he overslept, but because a foal was arriving.</p>
<p>“<span data-teams="true">Dan is an early riser. If he's not in the office by 6 a.m., it's because he's bringing a magnificent foal into this world!</span>” said Blevins. “<span data-teams="true">He's not only a great building engineer, he's an excellent horseman!"</span></p>
<p>For Shacklett, the farm is less a hobby than a return to his roots. He grew up on a 150-acre farm where his family raised tobacco, cattle and four Belgian draft horses (the kind of big, sturdy horses people often compare to Clydesdales). Those early years shaped the way he sees animals and the way he approaches work.</p>
<p>“A horse is just a big dog,” he said. “You just have to be easy with them and talk to them. They’re like big puppies that eat a little more.”</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/f68fcc7f-9c88-4a9d-96ff-3c6448622302/3/IMG_3372.jpeg?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" width="520" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<h6><em>Dory looking for some food.</em></h6>
<p>Shacklett has always been drawn to work that requires his hands. Before joining Yum! eight years ago, he worked in conveyor maintenance, served as a contractor in Afghanistan helping train and manage local workers and worked as a machinist. Long before any of that, he was the kind of kid who took things apart just to understand how they worked.</p>
<p>“If I couldn’t figure out how to get it back together, then I’d get whipped,” Shacklett said. “So you figure out real quick how to put it back together!”</p>
<p>That practical mindset has carried into every part of his life, from managing facilities projects at the RSC to building the infrastructure at Royal Creek Farm from the ground up. He is quick to point out that the horse world is not all polished arenas and blue ribbons. Show horses may be in the ring for only 10 or 15 minutes, but getting them there takes months of training, travel, care and planning.</p>
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<h6><em><!--StartFragment--><span data-olk-copy-source="MessageBody">From left to right: Millie with her colt, George; Blonde Palamino Clementine; the three amigos staring over the fence from left to right are Izzy, a 3-year-old thoroughbred mare, Benji, a yearling saddlebred stud, and Harley, a 3-year-old saddlebred mare; Dan and Izzy.</span> </em></h6>
<p>Still, he wouldn’t trade the long days. His favorite part is simple: being with the horses. Each has its own personality, from the retired Hackney Road pony named Whiskey to Bocelli, a boarded horse with torn retinas who relies on Whiskey to help guide him back from the creek.</p>
<p>“Wherever Whiskey goes, Bocelli goes with him,” Shacklett said. “Sometimes Bocelli can get down to the creek by himself, but he can’t always find his way back up the hill. Whiskey will go out there, nudge him and bring him back. It’s sweet.”</p>
<p>That connection is what keeps Shacklett going, even on five hours of sleep. The farm is demanding, but it also gives him something he can’t always find in the middle of a busy workday: quiet focus.</p>
<p>“If you have a bad day, you can go out there and mess with the horses, and the stress goes away,” he said. “You’re focused on them — how they’re doing, what they need. That’s my stress relief.”</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/f68fcc7f-9c88-4a9d-96ff-3c6448622302/4/IMG_7201.jpeg?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" width="520" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<h6><em>Dan with Izzy, who has the "same temperam,ent as Eeyore from 'Winnie the Pooh.'"</em></h6>
<p>For Shacklett, that balance is possible because of the support he feels at Yum!. He says his team knows his phone is always on and that he’ll answer if there’s an issue. In return, he appreciates the flexibility to manage the occasional early-morning foal or farm emergency.</p>
<p>“They know if there’s an issue, I’ll answer the phone,” Shacklett said. “We’re very flexible.”</p>
<p>It is a fitting arrangement for someone whose days are built around responsibility — to his team, the building, the animals and the future he and Angie are building together. What started as a fence line has become a life stitched together by work ethic, craftsmanship and care.</p>
<p>In 2014, a Sri Lankan delegate proposed dedicating a day for developing vocational skills for the world’s youth to the United Nations General Assembly. It was eventually passed and is celebrated annually on July 15.</p>
<p>In that same nation, Pizza Hut’s Youth Enablement Program (YEP) provides youth and people with disabilities with professional development, vocational education and industry-recognized credentials that prepare participants for careers in the quick-service restaurant industry. By reducing barriers to transportation and housing costs, the program helps participants successfully transition from training to employment, with nearly all graduates securing jobs after earning their certification.</p>
<p>YEP is just one of the ways parent company Yum! Brands is feeding the futures of the next generation.</p>
<h4><b>Building pathways to employment</b></h4>
<p>For many young people, their biggest challenge isn't ambition; it's access to opportunities. Across its global system, Yum! Brands is helping bridge that gap through Food & Futures, its community impact strategy. By investing in programs that build practical workplace skills, leadership capabilities and real-world experience, the company is helping young people prepare for meaningful careers while strengthening the communities it serves.</p>
<p>One example is in the United Kingdom, where KFC’s Hatch program helps young people build workplace skills, grow their confidence and train for their first job through paid work experience. Delivered in partnership with the <a href="https://www.kfcyf.org.uk/hatch" >KFC Youth Foundation</a>, the program provides access to a dedicated youth worker, employability training and support in entering the world of work.</p>
<p><iframe width="504" height="1845" src="https://www.linkedin.com/embed/feed/update/urn:li:share:7477698005760946176" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" title="Embedded post"></iframe></p>
<p>For participant Zee, Hatch helped turn months of unsuccessful job searching into a role with KFC and has since advanced to team leader.</p>
<p>"Through Hatch, I learned teamwork, communication skills and how to understand people and deal with problems,” <a href="https://www.kfcyf.org.uk/hatch" >Zee said</a>. “Now as a team leader, I have added responsibility and am learning how to handle more heightened situations."</p>
<h4><b>Building confidence through new experiences</b></h4>
<p>Developing skills isn't only about preparing for work. It's also about giving young people the chance to discover new interests, express themselves and build confidence.</p>
<p>In Thailand, KFC's Bucket Search program helps youth who did not complete high school reconnect with education while developing workforce-ready skills and exploring future career pathways. Through a <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/kfcthailand_through-our-incredible-kfc-bucket-search-activity-7473585378352898048-fJcb?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAi6abUBIPyiAElMHIInWxbsmrMTcXTOitg" >partnership with WAVS by Warner Music Thailand</a>, participants also create and perform original music, serving as a creative outlet and communication skills builder.</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/beed6878-c224-466d-9e0a-b7bd6273d256/1/habit+prostart+2.jpg?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p>In partnership with the California Restaurant Foundation and Arizona Restaurant Association, <a href="https://www.habitburger.com/fueling-the-next-generation-at-prostart-competitions/" >Habit Burger & Grill is investing in future talent through ProStart</a>. Together, they provide high school students with mentorship from Habit chefs, hands-on culinary and restaurant management experiences, and opportunities to develop technical, leadership and teamwork skills while connecting with industry professionals and competing for scholarships to support their future careers.</p>
<p>Jenna Barada earned top honors at this year's CA ProStart Cup. As part of her award, Barada spent a day in Habit’s Innovation Kitchen, where she experienced how new menu ideas are developed.</p>
<h4><b>Developing tomorrow's leaders</b></h4>
<p>Building skills early also creates opportunities that extend well beyond a first job.</p>
<p>Through the Yum! Center for Global Franchise Excellence at the University of Louisville, students from any academic discipline can earn an undergraduate certificate in Franchise Management, developing practical business, leadership and entrepreneurial skills while gaining real-world insights into one of the world's most successful business models.</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/beed6878-c224-466d-9e0a-b7bd6273d256/2/Scholars%2Bgroup%2B2025_Crop.jpeg?MOD=AJPERES" alt="" title="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></p>
<p>The Taco Bell Foundation's Community Grants program also supports nonprofit organizations that help young people build academic, financial and career readiness skills. Family & Consumer Science teacher <a href="https://prideinthetiger.org/25000-community-grant-from-the-taco-bell-foundation-to-strengthen-family-consumer-science-programs/" ><b>Kris Campion</b>, who received a recent grant to purchase updated culinary equipment and classroom resources, said</a>, "Having modern, efficient appliances allows students to safely learn essential culinary techniques, practice food safety and build confidence in the kitchen. It also increases efficiency in our classroom, so we can expand the skills students are able to master."</p>
<h4><b>Investing in youth skills every day</b></h4>
<p>This World Youth Skills Day, Yum! is proud to celebrate the franchisees, nonprofit partners, restaurant team members and youth who are expanding opportunities and building brighter futures. While this work takes place daily, it’s important to devote a day to its recognition because its impact can last a lifetime.</p>
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