Chequan Lewis

Leads the company’s equity vision and strategy across Pizza Hut’s footprint as a franchisor, employer, and community pillar. Responsible for helping shape Pizza Hut as a resilient business for the 21st century by encoding equity into the fabric of the company’s business structure, processes, and decision-making for the benefit of employees, franchisees, licensees, restaurant teams, and customers.

Managed Pizza Hut's domestic Express business and led the team responsible for the license of ~1,500 locations in airports, stadiums, military bases, Target stores, movie theaters, transportation centers, colleges/universities, and other venues. Held primary P&L responsibility and oversaw business's strategy, sales, marketing, development, operations, food safety, finance, and legal functions.

Managed brand’s strategic efforts in franchise administration, enforcement, and agreement drafting. Functioned as a critical business partner and legal advisor to key business units such as finance, operations, development, and treasury. Provided guidance facilitating large-scale/high-impact franchising and licensing transactions to execute brand's M&A strategy. Negotiated strategic agreements supporting brand's franchising efforts. Drafted and enforced brand standards designed to drive revenue growth, ensure franchise network uniformity, and improve customer experience. Managed franchising-related disputes as needed. Reported directly to Chief Legal Officer.

Represented clients in wide range of complex business litigation matters including trade secret misappropriation; tortious interference; federal securities class actions; tax disputes; suits regarding executive employee and board member duties; high-dollar contractual disputes; whistleblower retaliation suits; and cases involving federal leasing of allotted lands. Wrote and argued motions in state court; managed discovery; prepared witnesses for trial and deposition testimony; crafted case management budgets; managed client communications and negotiations with opposing counsel.

Led team responsible for developing and executing company-wide recruitment and employment plan for executive, management, and staff-level personnel.

Managed company-wide efforts to increase diversity in management ranks through analytical approach to recruiting. Drove increases in pipeline of diversity management talent in collegiate and lateral recruitment channels.

Supervised staff and daily operations of downstream department in distribution center.

Focused on process optimization and physical space redesign efforts to enhance operational productivity.