Papa John’s International took a big, tall step toward moving on without its founder, announcing retired NBA star Shaquille O’Neal as a paid endorser, restaurant investor and board member.The pizza chain long featured founder John Schnatter in its marketing, showcasing him in commercials, the logo and even on the pizza boxes, until his use of racial slurs including the n-word led to his stepping down from the chairman post in 2018. After a heated battle with the pizza chain he started in 1984, Schnatter agreed earlier this month to resign from the board.O’Neal is set to be a paid brand endorser for three years under a deal announced Friday. He’s giving the company and its national marketing fund the right and license to use his name, nickname, autograph, voice, video or film portrayals, facsimile signature, photograph, likeness and image for promotions in any and all media. In return, O’Neal is set to be paid $8.25 million over the three-year period, with half to be paid in cash and have to be paid in stock.
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Source: Ad Age – News
