Shaquille O’Neal Joins Papa John’s Board Of Directors

Papa John’s International (PZZA) has tapped NBA champion, Shaquille O’Neal, to join its board of directors in addition to being an investor in nine of its Atlanta restaurants. O’Neal will become an ambassador of the Papa John’s brand, building on his current portfolio of restaurants throughout the U.S.

“I have truly enjoyed the high-quality Papa John’s product for years and am excited to be able to help Papa John’s raise their game to new heights,” O’Neal said in a statement. “This is a triple threat opportunity for me. I am excited to join the Board and to help lead from the top, while also investing in nine stores in my home town of Atlanta and being an ambassador for the brand.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board and using my experience in business and community to build on the progress being made at Papa John’s. Papa John’s is building a better culture, and I want to be a part of improving the Company from the inside out,” he added.

To date, O’Neal owns an Atlanta-based Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and was the previous owner of 27 Five Guys Burgers and Fries franchises. He is also the founder and owner of Big Chicken located in Las Vegas and Shaquille’s, a fine-dining restaurant based in Los Angeles.

Beyond O’Neal’s appointment to the Papa John’s board, six new directors have also been added, including four new independent directors. The new directors include; Jeff Smith, CEO of Starboard Value, Michael Dubin, CEO and founder of Dollar Shave Club, Jocelyn Mangan, CEO and founder of Him For Her, Anthony Sanfilippo, former chairman and CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment, and Steve Ritchie, president and CEO of Papa John’s. Smith is also the new independent chairman of the board for the company.

Shares of Papa John's stock were up 5.80 percent as of 10:39 a.m. EST on Friday.