Dunkin' expected to name new CEO

Nigel Travis led Papa John's

Dunkin' Brands Inc. plans today to tap Nigel Travis, who resigned last week as chief executive of pizza giant Papa John's International Inc., to lead the Canton company, according to three executives briefed on the matter.

Travis, who served at the helm of Papa John's since 2005 and previously headed Blockbuster Inc., will in January become chief executive of the Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins chains, said the executives who could not be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the appointment.

"We wanted someone with a strong consumer background and someone who has an ability to bring strong managerial experience to bear on a company that continues to have a strong growth trajectory even in this difficult environment," said an executive at one of the investment firms that owns Dunkin'.

In a statement released last night, Dunkin' chief global communications officer Stephen Caldeira said: "As part of Dunkin' Brands' strong corporate governance practices, chairman and CEO Jon Luther has been working closely with our board of directors on succession planning since early 2008. We have no specifics about that plan to announce at this time."

Travis, reached yesterday evening by phone at his home in Louisville, Ky., would not confirm or deny the planned announcement. In a company statement last week, Papa John's said Travis was leaving "to pursue another opportunity" but did not specify the job. Travis, according to the statement, agreed to remain at Papa John's through Dec. 30. A Papa John's spokeswoman declined to comment.

Louisville-based Papa John's is the world's third-largest pizza company, operating and franchising more than 3,000 restaurants. Under Travis's leadership, in 2007, Papa John's outperformed its larger rivals, Pizza Hut Inc. and Domino's Pizza Inc., according to Dennis Lombardi, an executive vice president at WD Partners, a development firm.

Travis will take the reins from Luther, who helped lead a turnaround of Dunkin' since coming on board in 2003. Luther has rapidly expanded the Dunkin' doughnut chain across the nation with added support from the company's new owners, investment firms Bain Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners of Boston and the Carlyle Group of Washington, D.C.

Luther is in discussions to possibly remain with Dunkin' in some capacity, such as a board member, according to an executive. Luther declined to comment when reached at his office last night.

Jenn Abelson can be reached at abelson@globe.com.