Yum! CMO Ken Muench on How Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut Stay Fresh [Video]

In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Ken Muench, chief marketing officer at Yum!, dives into the strategy behind iconic brands like Taco Bell, KFC, and Pizza Hut.

He discusses digital transformation, balancing automation with human connection, and building culturally resonant brands at scale.

With quick-service restaurants evolving at a breakneck pace, the brands winning today are those that move fast, think globally, and connect deeply with culture. 

We unpack how Yum! Brands stays on the cutting edge—from Gen Z insights and digital experimentation to global brand cohesion and product innovation.

With a career spanning creative, strategy, and brand leadership, Ken co-founded the agency Collider, which Yum! later acquired to drive cultural insight and brand innovation. Under his leadership, Yum! has scaled a global center of excellence, blending marketing intuition with research and real-world impact.

Listen to Ken Muench on The Speed of Culture podcast to uncover how …