Marketing

Pizza Hut’s CMO, Lindsay Morgan, Tells Brand Stories | Pushes for Representation

Written by AdChat DFW

Lindsay Morgan’s first job was handling marketing and sales for a wine distributor. “I was much better at the marketing part than the selling part,” she says. Later roles included working at an events company, agencies and Samsung. She joined Pizza Hut as senior manager of advertising in 2017 and got the chief marketing officer role this spring.

“I’ve always loved being a storyteller,” says Morgan, 39.

She led the launch of Pizza Hut’s “Newstalgia” campaign featuring actor Craig Robinson and leaning on the brand’s history. The Yum Brands chain is getting some of its swagger back. Pizza Hut U.S. same-store sales rose 10% in the first half of 2021, a marked change from recent years when such sales declined and its biggest franchisee filed for bankruptcy.

Morgan, who was the first in her family to attend college and paid her own way, pushes for representation, asking for women and diverse candidates to be included in the bidding process on projects. “I feel really strongly about being able to give people chances—and you can’t be considered for the job if you weren’t considered in the bid,” she says.

If you could have dinner with one person, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Michelle Obama because I think she’s also a person who does a great job balancing the work part and the family part.

What are the top two social media sites you use on a regular basis?

As a mom of two young kids, I follow a lot of mom blogs, not just marketing ones, like Scary Mommy.

What’s currently on your bedside reading list?

I don’t read a lot of physical books, but I listen to podcasts such as “Advice to My Younger Me,” “Business Wars” and things on Audible.

What was the last show you binge-watched?

“Ted Lasso.”

At what age do you hope to retire?

I would love to retire by 50, but I see myself always kind of doing something. I love the parts of work where you’re trying to solve a problem in a different way.

original content

About the author

AdChat DFW

Promoting Agencies, Marketing, Production and Film in Dallas-Ft. Worth