Executive Spotlight: Who Is Nadeem Bajwa, Co-Founder & CEO of The Bajco Group, a Papa Johns Franchisee? (2027)

Current role and company

Bajco's Our Team page lists Bajwa as Chief Executive Officer, and names Faisal Bajwa as Chief Financial Officer and Abdul Malik Bajwa as President. Franchise Times (July 2025) says the three co-founded Bajco in 2002. Beyond Papa Johns restaurants, the company's website describes affiliated businesses in real estate, technology, construction, call center and business-process outsourcing work.

• CompanyThe Bajco Group, privately held, headquartered in Ohio (company website; contact address in Boardman, Ohio).
• TitleCo-founder and Chief Executive Officer (company Our Team page; CNBC, Aug 2025).
• ModelPapa Johns franchise operator, financed through traditional bank lending rather than private equity (Franchise Times, Jul 2025).
• Footprint275-plus units in 12 states (Franchise Times, May 2025). The company website also says over 275 Papa Johns locations.

Career path

• Move to the U.S. (1991). Franchise Times says he came from Pakistan to Indiana in 1991 to attend the Indiana Institute of Technology, and that his first job was delivering pizzas for Papa Johns around Fort Wayne. CNBC adds that he also washed dishes and worked nights at Taco Bell that first summer.
• Education (1996). Franchise Times says he graduated in 1996 with degrees in management, marketing and accounting.
• Up the operating ladder. He moved from driver to general manager, district or area manager and operating partner at Papa Johns before owning stores (Franchising.com, Sep 2024; Franchise Times, May 2025).
• First franchise store (July 2002). CNBC says he opened his first Papa Johns in East Liverpool, Ohio, funded with bank loans, buying used equipment and doing much of the work himself.
• Scaling up. Franchising Magazine USA (June 2023) described Bajco as then operating 192 stores in 11 states. By the end of 2024 Franchise Times counted 271, up 73 on the prior year through new builds and acquisitions.

A note on dates: Franchising Magazine USA places his start as a delivery driver in 1992, while CNBC and Franchise Times say 1991. This page uses 1991.

What Bajwa is known for

• A multi-state Papa Johns portfolio. From one Ohio store in 2002 to 271 locations at the end of 2024, ranked No. 57 on the Restaurant 200, up from No. 67 (Franchise Times, Jul 2025).
• The 50-unit development agreement. In April 2024 Papa Johns said it signed a deal with Bajwa and Bajco to open 50 restaurants by 2028 in the Midwest, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida (QSRweb).
• Developer recognition. Franchise Times reports Papa Johns named Bajco its domestic large developer of the year for 2024.
• Support businesses. CNBC says the construction, technology and accounting arms were built to support the Papa Johns portfolio and now also serve clients outside the brand.

Leadership style and philosophy

These are Bajwa's own words, as quoted by Franchising.com (September 2024), plus accounts of what he has said from CNBC and Franchise Times.

• On the business. "We are not in the pizza business but rather the people business."
• On growth. "Without growth, it is just a full-time job. You need to enjoy what you do."
• On past mistakes. CNBC reports he spent heavily on advertising before his first opening and half the crew quit on opening day, which he blamed on too much marketing and too little training. He also said that opening three stores at once forced him to slow down because he lacked strong people.
• On ambition. Franchise Times says his long-term target is 500 units or more, with no set timeline, and that he calls franchising a relationship built on collaboration.

Key numbers

Figures are company-reported or from press, each with its period. They are not audited and unit counts change.

• Jun 2023 (Franchising Magazine USA)192 stores in 11 states.
• 2024 (Franchise Times, Jul 2025)271 locations at year-end; $293 million in systemwide sales; 10 new locations opened; 15 planned for 2025.
• May 2025 (Franchise Times)275-plus units in 12 states; plan to open 12 units in 2025, pushing toward 15; on track for the 50-unit agreement by 2028.
• Goal (Franchise Times, CNBC)500 locations or more, with no official timeline.

Questions people ask

Sources

• Bajco Group: home page and Our Team · Ohio headquarters, Boardman address, titles, 275+ locations, affiliated businesses
• CNBC Make It: He moved to the U.S. in 1991, now he owns 270 Papa Johns stores (Aug 27, 2025) · Early jobs, first store in 2002, lessons; hero photo (caption names Nadeem Bajwa)
• Franchise Times: Major Papa Johns franchisee Bajco Group finds bright spots in tough times (Jul 28, 2025) · 2024 units, sales, rankings, education, financing, developer award
• Franchise Times: Large Papa Johns franchisee talks growth a year into 50-unit agreement (May 20, 2025) · 275+ units in 12 states, 2025 plans, 500-unit goal
• Franchising.com: From Pakistan to Papa Johns (Sep 6, 2024) · Career steps, quotes
• Franchising Magazine USA: Nadeem Bajwa, from delivery driver to Papa Johns franchise mogul (Jun 2023) · 192 stores in 11 states (2023), development goals
• QSRweb: Papa Johns inks deal with Bajco Group to open 50 restaurants (Apr 10, 2024) · 50-restaurant deal by 2028 and markets

Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026. Titles and counts are as of the dates shown; no current 2026 unit total was confirmed. The hero photo is a portrait from CNBC Make It whose caption names Nadeem Bajwa as co-founder and CEO of Bajco Group. It is cropped to him alone and centered on a blurred card. Photo: Courtesy of Nadeem Bajwa. This page covers public professional information only.

Top photo: Courtesy of Nadeem Bajwa (via CNBC Make It)