Pizza Express expands leadership team

Italian restaurant chain Pizza Express has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Stephen Taylor as its new chief marketing officer.

The appointment follows the brand's recent digital transformation, accelerated remodel programme and recently expanded delivery proposition. Reporting to group CEO Paula MacKenzie, Taylor's goal is to further develop the Pizza Express brand mission. 

Taylor's former brand-building background was with major consumer companies across the UK and internationally. His previous roles include European CMO at Samsung, VP consumer at Paypal and several senior marketing roles at Proctor & Gamble. Most recently, he led the global marketing function at Nokia as global CMO. His experience of placing sustainability at the core of the business at Nokia phones stands him in good stead, with Pizza Express committing to being Net Zero by 2040. 

In his new position, Taylor will oversee the digital and loyalty, brand and marketing communications, strategy and insight, food and beverage and Pizza Express live music teams. Under the new leadership, the teams will work collaboratively to maintain the brand's global customer focus.

MacKenzie says of Taylor's appointment: "Pizza Express is a much-loved iconic brand, and we need a dynamic CMO to lead a creative marketing strategy that combines our heritage with fresh, distinctive brand building. Stephen brings diverse experience with a proven-track record of honing a brand identity and resurrecting nostalgic brands. Leading a talented team, he will ensure that we show up in both an authentic and relevant way to loyal and new customers across our omnichannel business, a key part of fuelling our future growth. We’re thrilled to be welcoming him to team Pizza Express."

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