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Dunkin' Brands names new president of International division

February 8, 2012

Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands, parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has named Giorgio Minardi as the president of its International division.

Minardi will be responsible for strategically expanding the presence of both brands outside of the U.S. and for delivering a consistent, but culturally relevant, experience for international customers. Dunkin' Brands has more than 16,500 restaurants in 60 countries.

Minardi will report directly to Nigel Travis, CEO of Dunkin' Brands and president of Dunkin' Donuts, and will serve on the Dunkin' Brands leadership team.

He has held top development and brand management positions at international companies such as McDonald's, Burger King and Autogrill Corporation.

Most recently, Minardi served as managing director, Europe and the Middle East, for Autogrill, where he was responsible for that company's business operations in 40 countries. He also served as Autogrill's chairman in Spain and Belgium, and as president in Switzerland.

Prior to Autogrill, Minardi was with Burger King, first as vice president of Asia Pacific, and later as division vice president of Northwest Europe, where he was responsible for the company's overall performance in the United Kingdom, the brand's second-biggest region outside the U.S.

Minardi also spent 16 years with McDonald's Corporation, initially serving as vice president Marketing, Asia Pacific, and ultimately as vice president and chief marketing officer for Greater China, contributing significantly to the company's growth in the region.

Additionally, Minardi currently serves on the Board of Directors of Volotea Airlines in Europe.

"With an impressive career as an international executive with some of the leading brands in the food-service and retail industry, Giorgio is eminently qualified to help us capitalize on the tremendous global growth opportunities available to Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins," Travis said. "He has a unique blend of marketing, operational, development and general management experience, as well as on-the-ground experience in Asia Pacific, Europe and the U.S. Combine all of that with his passion for the foodservice industry, and we believe he will enable us to enhance our support of our international franchisees and drive profitable growth in new and existing markets."

During the first nine months of 2011, Dunkin' Brands Inc. opened approximately 480 net new locations globally.

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