Harley-Davidson has appointed Arthur (Artie) Starrs as president and CEO, effective October 1, succeeding Jochen Zeitz, who will remain chairman through the transition and serve as a senior advisor until February.  

Starrs joins Harley-Davidson from Topgolf Callaway Brands, where he served as CEO of the Topgolf International subsidiary.

During his tenure at Topgolf, Starrs oversaw significant growth, with annual revenue rising more than 50 per cent, from $1.1 billion in 2021 to $1.8 billion, and international expansion into five new markets across Europe and Asia.

Prior to Topgolf, Starrs held several leadership roles at Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum Brands. He served as global CEO from 2019 to 2021, leading the brand’s expansion to more than 18,000 locations in 110 countries. He previously served as president of Pizza Hut US.

“Starrs is an accomplished business leader who brings extensive experience managing strong brands and global operations,” said Troy Alstead, presiding director. 

“His track record of delivering top and bottom-line growth, combined with his experience in franchise-driven industries, is a huge asset for Harley-Davidson at this time in the company’s history.”

Starrs will also join the Harley-Davidson board of directors when he assumes the CEO role.