Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) announced that Tracy Skeans, Chief Operating Officer and Chief People & Culture Officer, plans to retire after more than 25 years with the company. Skeans will remain in her current role through late this year before transitioning to an advisory position.

Skeans joined Yum! Brands in 2000 as a finance analyst and advanced through various leadership roles. She spent more than a decade leading the Pizza Hut business, ultimately serving as President of Pizza Hut International before joining the Yum! Brands executive leadership team.

"Over a remarkable 25-year career at Yum!, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the company's operational excellence model, culture, talent and long-term growth strategy," said Chris Turner, Chief Executive Officer of Yum! Brands.

In her role as President of Pizza Hut International, Skeans oversaw a business spanning more than 85 countries. She joined the Yum! Brands executive leadership team in 2016 as Chief Transformation & People Officer, helping lead the company's transition to a franchisor model.

Skeans guided the company through the COVID-19 pandemic and the integration of Habit Burger & Grill. As Chief Operating Officer and Chief People & Culture Officer, she has responsibility for cross-brand collaboration on operational execution and people capability.

The company stated it is working to fill both a Chief People & Culture Officer role and a Chief Scale Officer position to handle Skeans' responsibilities. Skeans will assist in the transition through her advisory role until early 2028.

Yum! Brands operates more than 63,000 restaurants in 155 countries and territories under its KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill brands.