• by Tanya Gazdik , Yesterday

Jack in the Box has appointed former Yum Brands veteran Katelyn Zborowski as CMO, effective immediately.

“In the role, she will lead the company’s marketing strategy, with a focus on ‘driving demand through innovation and delivering profitable value,’” according to Chain Store Age. 

Zborowski, who has been at Yum Brands for 10 years, most recently served as head of brand strategy and integrated marketing at Pizza Hut. Prior to that she spent seven years at Taco Bell, most recently as director of brand marketing.

She is departing Yum “as the company explores strategic options for Pizza Hut, including a potential sale, following a protracted sales slump,” according to Marketing Dive. “Pizza Hut plans to shutter 250 U.S. stores, or roughly 4% of its footprint in the country, in the first half of this year.”

Ryan Ostrom, Jack in the Box’s last CMO, was promoted to chief customer and digital officer in late 2024.

“Jack in the Box’s marketing has frequently leaned into interest areas like gaming and stoner culture to grow appeal with younger consumers,” according to Marketing Dive. “The brand and agency partner TBWA\Chiat\Day Los Angeles last year launched a ‘So Munch More’ creative platform that inserts the brand — and occasionally its mascot, Jack Box — into popular digital content like YouTube’s ‘Hot Ones’ and the ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast.”

Zborowski’s appointment at the QSR comes “as the San Diego-based chain celebrates its 75th anniversary this year with the return of legacy menu items such as the Chicken Supreme — a fried chicken patty topped with signature mayo-onion sauce and melted Swiss-style cheese on a toasted cracked-wheat bun — accompanied by trendy bag charms,” according to Nation’s Restaurant News.  “It also launched a clothing collection featuring streetwear brand The Hundreds’ Adam Bomb and is rolling out in-app trivia games over the course of the year.”