<p><b>Louisville, KY, April 1, 2026</b> – Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced the appointment of Kathleen (Leeny) K. Oberg, former Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Development of Marriott International, Inc., to its Board of Directors, effective April 1, 2026. </p>
<p>“Leeny is a highly accomplished leader with deep global experience and a strong track record of driving disciplined growth,” said Brian Cornell, non-executive chairman of the Yum! Brands Board of Directors. “Her expertise and perspective will be a strong addition to our board and will help guide our strategy. We are pleased to welcome her to Yum! Brands.” </p>
<p>“We are thrilled to welcome Leeny to the Yum! Brands Board of Directors,” said Chris Turner, Chief Executive Officer, Yum! Brands. “With nearly three decades at Marriott International, her impressive background includes driving growth, financial discipline and operational performance. Her experience will be an asset as we work to raise the bar across our business and accelerate strong unit economics for our franchisees.” </p>
<p><b>About Kathleen (Leeny) K. Oberg</b></p>
<p>Ms. Oberg served as Marriott International, Inc.’s Chief Financial Officer from 2016 until 2026 and Executive Vice President, Development, of Marriott from 2023 until 2026. </p>
<p>Previously, Ms. Oberg was the Chief Financial Officer for The Ritz-Carlton from 2013-2015, where she contributed significantly to the brand’s performance, growth and organizational effectiveness. Prior to that role, Ms. Oberg served in a range of financial leadership positions with Marriott, including Senior Vice President, Corporate and Development Finance and Senior Vice President, International Project Finance and Asset Management for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. </p>
<p>Ms. Oberg first joined Marriott as part of its Investor Relations group in 1999. Prior to that, she held a variety of financial leadership positions with Sodexo (previously Sodexo Marriott Services), Sallie Mae, Goldman Sachs and Chase Manhattan Bank. Ms. Oberg was previously a member of the American Hotel and Lodging Association's IREFAC Council. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Adobe, Inc. </p>
<p>She earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce with concentrations in finance and management information systems from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce, and she received an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. </p>
<p><b>About Yum! Brands</b> <br>Yum! Brands, Inc., and its subsidiaries franchise or operate more than 63,000 restaurants across over 155 countries and territories under its iconic brands — KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut are global leaders in the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, respectively. Habit Burger & Grill is a fast-casual concept known for made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. </p>
<p>Fueled by Yum!’s Recipe for Good Growth, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut led Entrepreneur's 2026 Franchise 500 rankings and its Top Global Franchises 2025 list. In 2026, Yum!’s unrivaled culture and talent led it to be named one of TIME magazine’s list of Best Companies for Future Leaders for the third consecutive year. </p>
<p>
Every year since 1991, employees across the foodservice industry attend the Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Conference to be inspired by a roster of executives, celebrities and motivational speakers. Yum! Brands is an active partner, having Chief Operating Officer & People & Culture Officer Tracy Skeans as a former board chair and Pizza Hut Global President Shannon Garcia currently serving as a board member, and the company regularly sends a cohort of leaders to WFF each year. </p>
<p>One of those chosen to attend the 2026 conference was Lori Eberenz, Yum!’s director of Public Relations & Global Storytelling. She says that what makes WFF feel special is the “collective effervescence,” or the energy created through shared experience, purpose and connection. Surrounded by talented women and allies, that energy was undeniable, she said. </p>
<p>March 2026 was her second time attending, having first gone in 2018. </p>
<p>“It was just as powerful the second time around,” Eberenz said. “It was equally energizing, empowering and full of practical, actionable insights I brought back to my work, my team, my family and my life.”</p>
<p> Here are six that Eberenz took home with her (in her own words).</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Your future
self will figure it out.” </span></b></p>
<p>Monica Rothgery is the former chief operating officer of KFC U.S., the first woman to ever hold that title. She retired from KFC in 2022 and is now an author and speaker, having recently penned “Lessons from the Drive-Thru: Real Life Wisdom for Frontline Leaders.” </p>
<p>At WFF, Monica shared insights from 30 women leaders, along with some from her own experience, one of which was “your future self will figure it out.” This simple reminder resonated with me deeply. It’s easy to feel like we need to have everything mapped out, but growth doesn’t work that way. Looking back, my future self has always figured things out. Trusting myself allows me to take bigger, dare I say, braver, steps forward.</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/67fe11cd-6e1b-4138-a9a4-5e6b4850b512/1/WhatsApp+Image+2026-03-05+at+10.22.24+AM+%281%29.jpeg?MOD=AJPERES" title="" style="width: 620px; height: 775px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12px;"></span><span style="font-size: 18px;"><em><span style="font-size: 12px;">Yum</span><span style="font-size: 12px;">! employees at </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">WFF</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> 2026.</span></em>
</span><b><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">The power of
choice. “A single moment can re-write your story, but your choices can re-write
it again!”</span></b></p>
<p>Melissa Stockwell is a former Army officer and the first female American soldier to lose a limb in active duty in Iraq after an IED hit her convoy during a mission in 2004. She has since become a paralympic medalist in triathlon, a paratriathlon World Champion and Ironman. </p>
<p>Melissa’s story is a reminder that we have the power to choose our next move. She shared how every year she celebrates “Little Leg’s Birthday,” the anniversary of the injury that led to her amputation. It was a powerful reminder that while we don’t always choose our circumstances, we can choose our response. </p>
<p>That perspective hit home for me as I am a breast cancer survivor. Each year on April 10, I celebrate my survivor-versary with my family. We <i>choose </i>to celebrate the grit and resilience it took to get through that time. We <i>choose
</i>to pause to reflect with gratitude on the tremendous amount of support we received that carried us through that time, and we <i>choose </i>to focus on finding joy and living life to its fullest. </p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Bravery is
an acquired behavior.” </span></b></p>
<p>Nicole Bianchi, author of “Five Tough Talks: How to Lead Brave Conversations for Exceptional Results,” told us that you don’t need to trudge down the yellow brick road looking for the wizard to find your courage. Courage is something you build – “bravery is an acquired behavior.” </p>
<p>Like a muscle, it strengthens with use. Do one small brave thing each day. Over time, those small moments build the confidence you need to manage bigger challenges. </p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">When the
“how” feels hard, refocus on the “why.”</span></b> </p>
<p>Ben Nemtin is cofounder of The Buried Life movement, which began as a personal quest to complete a list of “100 things to do before you die.” Alongside his friends, he turned that idea into a <a href="https://www.bennemtin.com/tv-show/" >hit MTV
show</a> and a global platform focused on mental health, purpose and goal setting.
</p>
<p>We all face moments where the path forward feels unclear or difficult. In those moments, reconnect to the “why.” Purpose fuels perseverance and often, it’s what makes the impossible feel possible. (A good second learning from Ben: make a list of things you want to do before you die and start doing them NOW!)</p>
<p><img src="/wps/wcm/connect/yumbrands/67fe11cd-6e1b-4138-a9a4-5e6b4850b512/2/ChatGPT+Image+Mar+29%2C+2026%2C+08_14_34+PM.png?MOD=AJPERES" title="" style="width: 620px; height: 414px; margin: 0px auto; display: block;" /></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 18px;"><em><span style="font-size: 12px;">Eberenz</span><span style="font-size: 12px;"> (far right) with </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">Yum</span><span style="font-size: 12px;">! colleagues at WFF 2026.</span></em>
</span><b><span style="font-size: 18px;"><br /></span></b></p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Mattering
matters.”</span></b></p>
<p>People want more than to belong; they want to matter. That distinction is powerful, according to clinical psychologist, author and performance strategist Elizabeth Lombardo. When we feel like we matter, we are more engaged, connected and fulfilled. As leaders, we have an opportunity to create environments where people feel seen, valued and missed when they’re not there.</p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">“Don’t hog
your journey. It’s not just for you.”</span></b></p>
<p>I love Hoda Kotb, the former Today Show host, and everything about her platform, “Joy 101.” I learned a lot from her keynote, but in particular, the importance of sharing our journeys. We are a connected community. Our experiences, especially the hard ones, aren’t just ours to carry. They can inspire, support and guide others. Sharing our stories creates connection, and often, it gives someone else exactly what they need in that moment. </p>
<p><b><span style="font-size: 18px;">Bringing it back</span></b></p>
<p>Experiences like WFF are a powerful reminder of the importance of continuous learning and leadership development. I’m grateful to work for a company like Yum! Brands that invests in these opportunities and prioritizes growing its people. </p>
<p>I left WFF not just inspired, but equipped with practical tools, a renewed perspective and a commitment to keep growing, learning and sharing along the way. </p>
<p>Like Hoda said:
<i>don’t hog your journey.</i> The lessons we learn are meant to be shared.</p>
<p>When we bring these lessons back into our teams, work and homes, and share them openly, we help others grow, too. And that’s where real impact happens.</p>
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