PizzaExpress is bolstering its senior leadership team with the appointment of Lou Jones as its marketing director and Ross Pyres (pictured above) as customer technology director.
With more than 25 years’ experience in leadership roles spanning across both marketing and digital in the leisure, FMCG and health and wellbeing industries, Lou most recently held the role of marketing director at Virgin Active.
In this role, Lou was responsible for all marketing channels, steering the growth of the brand, its membership base and retention.
Lou’s previous roles include head of online and digital marketing at Marks & Spencer, and head of marketing at Tesco.
Ross Pyres joins PizzaExpress with nearly 20 years’ experience, having worked across a range of technology roles for various food brands, previously as the chief technology officer for SimplyCook, as global head of technology for Pret A Manger, and as head of IT systems at Prezzo.
The appointment of Lou and Ross comes at a pivotal moment for PizzaExpress, as the brand celebrates its 60th birthday, refreshes its industry-leading loyalty scheme, the PizzaExpress Club, and aims to reach 1,000 restaurants globally by 2030.
Set to lead the global omnichannel brand’s marketing channels across brand, social, PR, creative, insights, and digital performance marketing, Lou Jones, marketing director at PizzaExpress, said: “I’m thrilled to be joining such an iconic brand in PizzaExpress.
I’ve long been a fan and have many memories of visiting over the years and now bring my own family for Dough Balls and pizza. I’m looking forward to joining the team during such an exciting time.”
Ross Pyres, customer technology director at PizzaExpress, added: “PizzaExpress is a renowned omnichannel brand, and this, paired with its highly regarded PizzaExpress Club, allows for so much growth opportunity in the months and years to come.
As a fan of PizzaExpress long before being appointed to this role, I’m excited to have joined this iconic brand.”
