Papa Johns is co-headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and Louisville, Ky., and is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company with more than 5,900 restaurants in about 50 countries and territories.

Penegor, a 1983 Iron Mountain High School graduate, served most recently as president and CEO of Wendy’s, a role he had from 2016 until stepping down in February.

Penegor explained his short-lived retirement to Nation’s Restaurant News, saying he loves the restaurant business and is “hardwired” for it.

“I started to think about what I missed in the space, the communities we’re in, supporting a franchisee community, opportunities for our employee base. I missed it,” he said in an Aug. 1 interview.

“Todd’s appointment as president and chief executive officer successfully concludes an extensive search to identify a proven leader who has the experience, skills and vision to achieve the full potential of the Papa Johns brand and accelerate growth,” Papa Johns board chair Christopher Coleman said in a statement. “Todd has an outstanding record of leading winning teams and scaling franchised operations globally through trusted partnerships, product innovation and digital transformation. He has also demonstrated his ability to effectively allocate capital, drive value and enhance profitability. We are excited to welcome Todd to Papa Johns and look forward to his contributions as we work to create significant, sustainable value for our shareholders and franchisees.”

During Penegor’s tenure at Wendy’s, the company expanded its footprint to more than 7,000 restaurants in 30 markets and U.S. territories and achieved its 12th consecutive year of same-store sales growth, Nation’s Restaurant News reported.

Penegor previously had leadership roles at cereal maker Kellogg Co. and automaker Ford Motor Co. He holds a master’s degree in finance from Michigan State University and serves on the board of directors of Ball Corporation and Dutch Bros.

“I am honored to serve as chief executive officer of Papa Johns and work with the board, our dedicated team members and franchisees to usher in the company’s next chapter,” Penegor said in a statement. “By consistently delivering on the ‘Better Ingredients. Better Pizza.’ brand promise, Papa Johns already has the best pizza in the industry. I am committed to providing exceptional customer experiences across all of our offerings and touchpoints to ensure we unlock the full potential of Papa Johns’ differentiated market position. Papa Johns has an exceptional foundation in place, and I’m confident in our ability to win in the QSR (Quick Service Restaurants) space,” he said.

Penegor told Nation’s Restaurant News his initial plans include a listening tour with corporate employees, restaurant employees, field employees, franchisees and everyone in between.

Papa Johns has no stores in the Upper Peninsula. The chain is present in 27 Wisconsin cities, including Green Bay, De Pere, Appleton and Wausau.