Papa John’s names Ann Gugino CFO

Ann Gugino

The Stage

Papa John’s International was in the midst of a major transformation, expanding internationally and revamping their executive team to add diversity and new viewpoints that would elevate them to the next level. ON Partners was retained to undertake a search for a new CFO – a key role that required an experienced executive with fresh ideas and an appetite for innovation.

Key People Involved

Marvin Boakye

Papa John’s Chief People and Diversity Officer

Key Client Contact

Bryan Buck

Partner

Tim Conti

Partner

Josh Nathanson

Partner

The Approach

The ON Partners team focused on three different search directions simultaneously and stayed in constant contact with their client to give him real-time information on their strategy and candidate feedback. The team became so well-versed in the Papa John’s story that they became brand ambassadors and communicated the company’s vision and unique opportunities to candidates.

In short order, ON Partners brought to the table an entirely new slate of exceptional candidates. This shattered the client’s perception that they had already exhausted all of their options with their last, unsuccessful search with a different firm.

“I appreciated the constant contact and the fact that I was having conversations with principals who were talking to candidates, so I knew what they were hearing first-hand vs. getting it from a junior team member,” said Boakye. “When we did check-ins, the entire team was on the call, and the fact that they took my calls at nine in the morning or nine at night really spoke to me.”

The Solution

Ann Gugino, former SVP of Financial Planning and Analysis at Target Corporation, was the first person the client interviewed and ultimately they decided she was the right person to be their new CFO. Gugino said the myriad opportunities associated with the company’s transformation, its changing business model and culture all resonated with her.

Closing Word

“ON Partners gave us a whole new candidate list that was bright and refreshing,” said Boakye. “They were able to present options that helped open our minds to what could be possible and why.”