Yum! Brands Appoints Former HanesBrands CEO Steve Bratspies to Board of Directors

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug 21, 2026--

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"Steve is a respected business leader with extensive experience leading global consumer brands and driving operational excellence at scale," said Brian Cornell, Non-Executive Chairman of the Yum! Brands Board of Directors. "His deep expertise across retail, brand management and consumer products, combined with his public company leadership experience, will bring valuable perspective to our board.”

“Throughout his career, Steve has demonstrated a strong ability to deliver results in highly competitive consumer markets,” said Chris Turner, Chief Executive Officer, Yum! Brands. “His experience will be a tremendous asset as we continue to execute against our Raise the B.A.R. priorities and create long-term value for our stakeholders."

About Steve Bratspies

Bratspies most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of HanesBrands, Inc., where he also served as a member of the company's Board of Directors.

Prior to joining HanesBrands, Bratspies served as Chief Merchandising Officer at Walmart Inc., where he also held several other senior leadership positions, including Executive Vice President, Food, and Executive Vice President, General Merchandise, where he oversaw key merchandising and business operations across the company's U.S. business.

Earlier in his career, Bratspies served as Chief Marketing Officer of Specialty Brands, a frozen foods company, and held various executive leadership positions at PepsiCo, Inc.

Bratspies currently serves on the Board of Directors of Target Corporation and The Clorox Company.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Franklin & Marshall College and a master’s degree in business administration from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

About Yum! Brands

Yum! Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries franchise or operate more than 58,000 restaurants in 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 is a fast-casual concept known for fresh, cooked-to-order food.

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 Best Companies for Future Leaders for the third consecutive year.

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced the appointment of Stephen ("Steve") B. Bratspies, former Chief Executive Officer of HanesBrands, Inc., to its Board of Directors, effective August 26, 2026.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s most decorated Olympic athlete Tatjana Smith is changing nations to compete for the Netherlands, a decision she acknowledged Tuesday “may disappoint or break the hearts” of some supporters.

Two-time Olympic swimming champion Smith said in a sometimes tearful video message posted on Instagram: “I’ve decided to swim for the Netherlands.”

“I know that not everyone will understand or agree with my decision,” she said, citing “financial and practical challenges” that can make a swimming career difficult to sustain.

Smith won the 100 breaststroke title at the 2024 Paris Olympics and, as Tatjana Schoenmaker, the 200 breaststroke at the Tokyo Games held in 2021.

She also took two silvers, in the 100 at Tokyo and the 200 in Paris, to become South Africa’s most successful Olympic athlete. Swimmer Chad le Clos also has four medals though just one gold.

“Both countries are a part of who I am,” the 29-year-old Smith said. “But dreams can change as you grow.”

She retired from competitive swimming after Paris and announced a comeback two months ago, targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — now in Dutch orange instead of South African green and gold.

Smith added athletes need a system where they can thrive and not just survive, suggesting she would have “greater high performance support” in future. She said she would continue training in South Africa.

See AP’s full sports coverage here

FILE - Tatjana Smith, of South Africa, celebrates after winning the women's 100-meter breaststroke final at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Nanterre, France, July 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)