News

Tim Hortons/Burger King joint company names exec team

December 15, 2014

Restaurant Brands International Inc., the newly formed parent company of Burger King and Tim Hortons, today announced its new executive leadership team and board of directors. The team is comprised of senior executives from both brands and includes:

• Daniel Schwartz, former CEO of Burger King, has been appointed as CEO. He will lead the company’s day-to-day business and is responsible for the overall business strategy.
• Elías Díaz Sesé, president, Tim Hortons Brand
• José Cil, President, Burger King Brand
• Scott Bonikowsky, Chief Communication and Corporate Affairs Officer
• Heitor Gonçalves, Chief People and Information Officer
• Jill Granat, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
• Josh Kobza, Chief Financial Officer
• Cara Piggot, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain

"I am honored to have been chosen to lead Restaurant Brands International and its two iconic brands," Schwartz said in a news release. "We have assembled a world-class leadership team that shares a passion for our brands and is committed to successfully growing the company into the world’s leading global restaurant business."

Tim Hortons brand

Díaz Sesé most recently served as president, Burger King Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for leading the brand’s aggressive growth strategy in the region. He and his family will be relocating to Oakville, Ontario, from Singapore.

Díaz Sesé will be supported by a team of Tim Hortons executives, including:

• David Clanachan, president and Chief Operating Officer, Tim Hortons Canada
• Mike Meilleur, president, Tim Hortons US 
• Peter Nowlan, Chief Marketing Officer
• Tammy Sadinsky Martin, Senior Vice President, Retail
• Felipe Athayde, Executive Vice President, US Development
• Sami Siddiqui, Executive Vice President, Finance

Burger King brand

Cil most recently oversaw the brand’s unprecedented expansion in Europe, Middle East and Africa as president of Burger King EMEA, recording 15 consecutive quarters of positive same-store sales and nearly tripling the region’s profits in the past four years while opening 1,200 restaurants in that period. Cil and his family will be relocating back to his hometown of Miami from Zug, Switzerland. He will be supported by:

• Alex Macedo, President, Burger King North America
• Bruno Lino, President, Burger King Europe, Middle East and Africa
• David Shear, President, Burger King Asia Pacific
• José Dias, President, Burger King Latin America and the Caribbean
• Axel Schwan, Global Chief Marketing Officer
• Rodrigo Musiello, Executive Vice President, Operations
• Paulo Barbosa, Executive Vice President, Finance

Board of directors

As previously announced, the board of directors of Restaurant Brands International will include eight Burger King Worldwide Inc. directors and three directors appointed by Tim Hortons. Alex Behring will lead the board as Executive Chairman and Director, along with the following directors: Marc Caira, vice-chairman; Martin E. Franklin; Paul J. Fribourg; John Lederer; Tom Milroy; Alan Parker; Daniel Schwartz; Roberto Moses Thompson Motta; Alexandre Van Damme; and Carlos Alberto da Veiga Sicupira.