Papa John’s International said on Friday its board unanimously named Olivia Kirtley its chairwoman, a move that founder John Schnatter supported even as he presses a lawsuit highly critical of how she and the other board members have handled the controversy surrounding him in recent weeks.
Kirtley, the board's lead independent director, has effectively been in the board's top role since Schnatter gave up the chair's position on July 11, the same day he admitted using the N-word during a media training session in May.
A spokesman for Schnatter confirmed that he voted for Kirtley to become chairwoman. The company