• Earned bachelor’s degree from KU School of Business, 1984

• KU School of Business Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, 2016

James Schwartz is chairman, chief executive officer and president of NPC International Inc., the world’s largest Pizza Hut franchise operation with more than 1,000 operating Pizza Hut units in 27 states and more than 350 Wendy’s units in eight states.

A native Kansan, Schwartz earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting from the University of Kansas in 1984 and earned his CPA.

He started his career with Ernst & Young in 1984 in the firm’s audit practice, progressing to manager of the firm in 1989. In October 1991, Schwartz joined NPC International, holding various positions including chief financial officer until being promoted to president in February 1995. In January 2005, he was named CEO.

Schwartz is a former director of the Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions Board and served as its chairman in 2004 and 2016. He is actively involved in the Pizza Hut system and has served on the franchisee board of directors in three separate terms, including as its chairman in 2009 and 2014, on its advertising committee, and on multiple negotiation committees. He has also served on the board of directors of Freightquote.com and the KU School of Business Dean’s Advisory Board.

In 2004, Schwartz was inducted into the Pizza Hut Franchise Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Ernst & Young Midwest Region Retail Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013 and in 2015 was named as one of “50 Kansans You Should Know” by Ingram’s Magazine. In 2016, Schwartz was recognized by the KU School of Business with the Distinguished Alumni Award.