• by Lisa Bertagnoli , November 17, 2006

Beginning Dec. 1, Emil Brolick takes the new post of president of U.S. brand building at Louisville, Ky.-based Yum Brands. Yum comprises Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC, Long John Silver's and A&W Restaurants, for a total of about 20,000 restaurants nationwide.

Brolick, previously president of Taco Bell, was tapped to oversee brand building because of his success in leading Taco Bell to five straight years of sales and profit growth.

"Emil has been leading the charge there--he will spread that magic over all brands, driving sales and profit growth," said a Yum Brands spokesman. Growth at Pizza Hut and KFC "has been up and down over the last few years," the spokesman said.

The presidents of Yum Brands companies will report to Brolick, with chief marketing officers at each brand reporting to their respective presidents. The spokesman said Brolick's appointment will prompt no agency review. BBDO handles Pizza Hut, while Draft FCB handles Taco Bell and KFC.

Greg Creed, most recently chief operating officer at Yum Brands, replaces Brolick as president of Taco Bell. Peter Hearl replaces Creed as chief operating and development officer, a new position. Hearl was most recently president of Pizza Hut. That role now belongs to Scott Bergren, previously executive vice president, chief marketing and food innovation officer for Yum Brands.

Meanwhile, Taco Bell announced Thursday that it is switching to a trans-fat-free canola oil for frying in its 4,200 single-brand domestic restaurants. The switch, expected to be complete by April 2007, will remove trans fats from about 15 menu items.