---
title: "Vancouver Business Journal Podcast: Papa Murphy's Introducers New Interim CEO Jean Birch"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/2e296857-43c3-41ee-b0f0-46ae6a464ab6
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/vancouver-business-journal-podcast-papa-murphys-introducers-new-interim-ceo-jean-birch-12196
category: "Pizza"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Pizza"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2017-05-12T20:15:02.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T03:12:49.373Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/d30908d94ee159919afdcddbeb0e060f4429.jpg
---

# Vancouver Business Journal Podcast: Papa Murphy's Introducers New Interim CEO Jean Birch

**TL;DR:** Papa Murphy's has named Jean Birch as its interim CEO, who brings nearly 30 years of experience from brands like Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. Birch is working to enhance the relationship with franchisees through a new PACT initiative.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2017-05-12. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/vancouver-business-journal-podcast-papa-murphys-introducers-new-interim-ceo-jean-birch-12196).*

## Story

Jean Birch, joined the board of directors at Papa Murphy's in 2015 after developing nearly 30 years of experience at Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Corner Bakery, Macaroni Grill and I-Hop. At the beginning of 2017, Birch was named the interim CEO of the pizza giant.

"Well, it has certainly been a pleasure to work with this team and this company over these last several months," said Birch in an interview with the Vancouver Business Journal. "As Interim CEO you get kind of a unique perspective that is far closer to the business than you would on the board of directors."

Upon accepting the position, Birch had one requirement - the team had to allow her to be hands on.

"My experience has been to really assess the organization, understand what's going well, and there is a tremendous amount of wonderful things going on. But importantly, too, to see where we can change and get better to continue to grow as a company."

With Birch's guidance, Papa Murphy's is working to enhance the relationship with their franchisees through a new PACT initiative, aimed at determining the most meaningful aspects of the brand's core values from the perspective of the franchisor and franchisee in order to create a more cohesive bond.

"I think one of the most important things we can do is to sincerely and honestly listen to our franchise owners with deep respect and deep trust," Birch said to editor-in-chief Nick Shanmac. "We're tied together, this relationship doesn't work if only one half is being successful."

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- Taco Bell (company)
- Pizza Hut (company)
- leadership change (topic)
- IHOP (company)
- Papa Murphy's (company)
- franchisee relations (topic)
- Corner Bakery Cafe (company)
- interim ceo (topic)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/vancouver-business-journal-podcast-papa-murphys-introducers-new-interim-ceo-jean-birch-12196). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/2e296857-43c3-41ee-b0f0-46ae6a464ab6).