---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001628280-24-012369"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "PZZA"
cik: "0000901491"
company_name: "PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC"
filed_at: "2024-03-21T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-04T11:07:43.192184+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Papa John's CEO Rob Lynch resigns effective March 20; CFO Ravi Thanawala interim CEO; FY2024 guidance reaffirmed

## Summary
- CEO Rob Lynch resigns to assume CEO role elsewhere, effective March 20, 2024; will advise through April 30.
- CFO Ravi Thanawala appointed interim CEO; base salary increased by $130k, bonus target raised to 125%, receives $400k RSU.
- Board reduced from 10 to 9 directors; comprehensive external search for permanent CEO underway.
- FY2024 adjusted operating income guidance reaffirmed at $153M-$163M.
- North America net unit growth expected >20% vs 2023; international gross openings forecast 100-140 restaurants.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001628280-24-012369
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: PZZA
- cik: 0000901491
- company_name: PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC
- filed_at: 2024-03-21T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/901491/000162828024012369/0001628280-24-012369-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/901491/000162828024012369/pzza-20240318.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-012369
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-012369.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001628280-24-012369.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Robert M. Lynch resigned as President and Chief Executive Officer at PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC.
  - Action: resigned
  - Role: President and Chief Executive Officer
  source text: On March 18, 2024, Robert M. Lynch informed the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Papa John’s International, Inc. (the “Company”) of his decision to resign from his position as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and as a director of the Board, in each case effective March 20, 2024, to assume a chief executive officer role with another company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/901491/000162828024012369/0001628280-24-012369-index.htm
- Executive change
  Ravi Thanawala was appointed as interim Chief Executive Officer at PAPA JOHNS INTERNATIONAL INC.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: interim Chief Executive Officer
  source text: the Board appointed Ravi Thanawala, the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, to the additional position of interim Chief Executive Officer, effective March 20, 2024.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/901491/000162828024012369/0001628280-24-012369-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.