Papa John's International has hired Elias Reyna as the company's new chief people and diversity officer, according to a press release.

Reyna will lead: global human resources; diversity, equity and inclusion; talent recruiting and management; total rewards and employee relations functions, reporting to president and CEO Rob Lynch.

Previously, Reyna was vice president of human resources, manufacturing and distribution at ABM Industries.

Prior to ABM, Mr. Reyna was vice president human resources and people services for Papa Johns, where in two years with the company he led the HR function, as well as served as the People Operations lead for the opening of the company's second headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. During his time at Papa Johns, he also served as interim VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion during a transition period.

"Elias couldn't be a better culture fit for Papa Johns as he is a model of our core values. His proven leadership experience in our company and his existing relationships with our teams will make him a great asset in this role," Rob Lynch, president and CEO, said in the release. "I'm proud that Elias will be the first Latino leader to join our executive leadership team, already one of the most diverse in the restaurant industry."

"One of the highlights of my career was playing a role in the historic cultural transformation of Papa Johns. I'm passionate about the company's top strategic priority, which is building a culture of leaders who believe in diversity, inclusivity and winning," Reyna said in the release. "I'm honored to be able to lead the continued work Papa Johns is doing to further this priority, working within our company, our supply chain and with our franchisees to be an employer of choice so we can attract and retain the best talent in our industry."

Papa Johns operates more than 5,500 restaurants in 47 countries.

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