News

Yum Brands acquires leadership development company to grow franchisee leaders, culture

Logo: Provided.

March 4, 2020

Yum! Brands has acquired a leadership development program company called Heartstyles that the multi-restaurant brand organization said it will employ to "unlock potential and build the capabilities of people who drive the performance for KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell," according to a news release. 

Heartstyles was created by a pair of personal/cultural transformation specialists as a program that helps people improve themselves, lead organizations and build cultures that build better brands. Yum! Brands said the acquisition further shows its commitment to a people-first culture and better customer experience through better leadership. 

The Heartstyles program includes an online 360-degree self assessment tool to further personal and leadership development. Yum has already started what it said are multi-year plans to scale Heartstyles and offer it to its 2,000-plus franchisees in charge of more 50,000 restaurants. Heartstyles will also continue to consult worldwide with other clients. 

"I'm committed to elevating the experience for each of our 40 million customers every day and achieving the kind of unit economics only made possible with an exceptional culture and talent," Yum CEO David Gibbs said in the release. "Scaling Heartstyles globally can help us consistently and measurably strengthen our people-first culture from the corner office to the restaurant. When we and our franchisees have strong and engaged restaurant general managers, they lead inspired teams, the customers feel it and it positively impacts results. We believe Heartstyles is a powerful tool to help our 2,000 franchisees consistently deliver and sustain a great customer experience and grow restaurant sales."

Heartstyles was created by the husband-and-wife team of Stephen and Mara Klemich. Stephen Klemich is a leadership consultant, while Mara Klemich is a neuropsychologist.

Though Yum Brands also recently acquired fast casual The Habit Burger Grill, no information was immediately available on whether the leadership program will be employed with that brand as well.