Papa John’s founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he publicly criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players — comments for which the company later apologized.
Schnatter will be replaced as chief executive by Chief Operating Officer Steve Ritchie on Jan. 1, the company announced Thursday. Schnatter, who appears in the chain’s commercials and on its pizza boxes, and is the company’s biggest shareholder, remains chairman of the board.
Earlier this year, Schnatter blamed slowing sales growth at Papa John’s — an NFL sponsor and advertiser — on the outcry surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had kneeled during the national anthem to protest what he said was police mistreatment of black men, and other players started kneeling as well. read more
PICKENS COUNTY, SC. (THECOUNT) — Demetrius Rashad Johnson, of Anderson, South Carolina, was killed and…
EXETER TOWNSHIP, PA. (THECOUNT) — Larry Pergola Jr., of Exeter Township, Pennsylvania, was killed early…
ALBANY, N.H. (THECOUNT) — Daniel Jennings, of Tamworth, New Hampshire, was killed and the driver…
ST. PAUL, MN. (THECOUNT) — Lionel Richie was rushed to a hospital Wednesday night after…
TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA. (THECOUNT) — David Clayton-Thomas, the legendary Canadian singer, songwriter, and longtime frontman…
WABAUNSEE COUNTY, KS. (THECOUNT) — Blake Ronald Turner, of Aurora, Colorado, was killed Wednesday evening…