Yum’s chief corporate affairs officer Allyson Park departs after less than a year

Allyson Park has left Yum Brands less than a year after being named the company’s chief corporate affairs officer. An email sent to Nation’s Restaurant News announced Park’s appointment as SVP and chief communications officer of Walmart, effective July 26.

Park started her role at Yum Aug. 15, 2022, overseeing the company’s communications, public policy and government relations, corporate social responsibility and environmental, social and governance teams. Park was part of Yum’s global leadership team, reporting to COO/Chief People Officer Tracy Skeans. Park took over for Jerilan Greene, who spent 11 years with Yum, including four as global chief communications and public affairs officer. 

At the time of her hire, Park said in a statement, “Yum’s iconic brands, leadership team and reputation for emphasizing culture and embracing the value of people in its business strategy are just a few reasons why I’ve long admired the company. Yum and its brands continue to demonstrate the resiliency of their business model and ability to drive global growth in a dynamic environment, and I am excited to lead corporate affairs for an industry powerhouse with unmatched scale, world-class franchise partners and an unrivaled workforce of more than 1 million employees and restaurant team members.”

Her departure from Yum comes on the heels of the company’s latest Global Citizenship and Sustainability Report, showcasing its progress on gender parity in leadership roles, a reduction in carbon emissions production, the adoption of a new packaging policy to streamline sustainability efforts and more.

“We’re grateful for Allyson’s contributions to Yum Brands and wish her well in her new role. The company has a deep and experienced corporate affairs team that will report in the interim to Tracy Skeans, Yum! Brands Chief Operating Officer & Chief People Officer,” Yum shared in a statement.

Park has declined to comment at this time.

Walmart EVP, Corporate Affairs, Dan Bartlett, wrote in an email, “Throughout her career, Allyson has launched corporate narratives for leading brands, served as a spokesperson engaging with media and other stakeholders, led financial communications, and supplied communications counsel and support to her business partners on a range of issues … I look forward to Allyson helping tell this story by showcasing how our associates are serving customers and members with the things they want, when and how they want them, and ways we are enabling the future through innovation by creating experiences that are unlike what any other retailer can offer.”

Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]