Education
Chaminade College Preparatory School
St. Louis, Missouri, United States
(1991-1994)
Pepperdine University
Malibu, California, United States
Bachelor’s Degree, Business Administration and Management
(1994 – 1997)
If we were to interview your teachers, what would they say about you?
Jim typically dressed well and enjoyed writing.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was young, my response to this question was to simply "have fun" because I enjoyed going on vacation, playing sports and eating out. I’ve continued to have fun into adulthood, working at Marriott, Under Armour and Yum! Brands.
WORK
First Job
When I was 16, I scooped ice cream at my local Baskin Robbins. I still have a sweet tooth!
Ernst & Young Global Consulting Services, Tokyo, Japan
1997-1999: Senior Consultant
Marriott International, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
1999-2001: Senior Analyst, Corporate Finance
Royal Ahold NV, Amsterdam, Netherlands
2002-2003: Senior Manager, Investor Relations
Marriot International, Bethesda, Maryland, United States
2003-2004: Senior Manager, Lodging Finance
2004-2007: Director, Sales & Marketing
2007-2011: Vice President, Brand Management
2011-2014: Vice President, Owner & Franchise Services
2014-2016: Senior Vice President, Global Operations
2016-2021: Senior Vice President, Enterprise Products
2021-2023: Chief Digital & Business Transformation Officer
Under Armour, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
2023-2024: Executive Vice President, Chief Consumer Officer
Yum! Brands, Plano, Texas, United States
2024-2025: Global Chief Digital & Technology Officer, Pizza Hut
2025-present: Chief Digital & Technology Officer and President of Byte by Yum!
What moments, or who, in your life influenced the way you work?
My Parents
Both worked very hard, one as a corporate executive and the other as a stay-at-home parent. The examples they set still inspire my strong work ethic today.
Learning the power of culture
At Marriott, I worked for some of the best, smartest and most servant-led leaders in my career. They showed me how intentionally cultivating a strong culture drives performance and that striving for excellence is fully compatible with leading with care and humility. I'm grateful to have found a similar culture at Yum!.
How were you able to transition from finance to marketing to franchising and end up in technology? Any advice?
I started my career in finance and development, but early on, I raised my hand for a volunteer opportunity that moved me into sales and marketing, which set the tone for my career. From there, I took on new challenges across franchising and technology, often through lateral moves, focusing less on the function and more on leading change, building commercial understanding and bringing cross-functional teams together.
My advice is to build relationships in the area you’re interested in, understand the transferable skills that matter there and be willing to bet on yourself.
What do people think you do versus what you actually do?
Many people assume I manage technology platforms, systems and tools, but I manage people, priorities and alignment. I work with our brands and franchisees to deploy Byte by Yum!™ technology at scale, empower restaurant teams, enhance customer experiences and drive growth. Technology is the outcome; leadership is the work.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
You don’t have to choose between excellence and humility — great leadership requires both.
How do you disconnect from work and recharge during your free time?
Time with my family, new travel experiences and discovering great food help me disconnect, while cycling and bike racing give me a focused, physical outlet that helps me recharge.
What Motivates You?
I’m motivated by knowing that my work makes a meaningful difference in the lives of the people around me.
