US-based corporation Yum Brands has reorganised its Yum Restaurants International division (YRI) to build strong brands and support its aggressive global expansion.

Part of its reorganisation is the separation of Yum India businesses from YRI. Yum Brands has created a Yum Restaurants India, a standalone division to be headed by Niren Chaudhary as president of the new division.

“We have separated our India business from YRI to create a standalone reporting division to underscore the potential scale of this exciting emerging market for Yum Brands,” said David Novak, chairman and CEO of Yum Brands.

“There is clear evidence that we are at the same stage of development as we were in China at a similar juncture in its life cycle, and I’m confident we will turn India into a major growth engine for Yum under Niren Chaudhary’s inspiring leadership,” said Novak.

Chaudhary has joined the company in 1994, overseeing KFC in Netherlands and Germany and took over the company’s India operations in 2007.

As of 2010, India has now 100 KFC and 175 Pizza Hut outlets.

Yum has also promoted Mickey Pant as the new CEO of YRI, replacing Graham Allan who is retiring early next year.

Pant has been working for the company since 2005, when he became the chief marketing officer. He developed strategic global plans for KFC and Pizza Hut including KFC AM and Krushers international and KFC’s global ‘so good’ campaign.

“Micky is an exceptional strategic and conceptual thought leader, who has tremendous passion, energy and commitment to building our business and satisfying our customers. He has also forged outstanding relationships with our franchisees and is a culture champion who has mentored and developed outstanding leaders across our company,” Novak said.

Yum! Brands has more than 38,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and territories. It also owns Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and All American Food.

GB