Tim Hortons’ parent company appoints new Executive Chairman, CEO, COO

Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons, announced three leadership changes on 23 January. Daniel Schwartz, who was Chief Executive Officer of RBI subsidiary Burger King in 2013 and has held the same role since with RBI since it was formed in 2014, has been promoted to Executive Chairman and Co-Chairman of RBI's Board of Directors. RBI says Schwartz will remain deeply involved in its business and will continue to focus on talent acquisition, capital allocation and major strategic initiatives. Schwartz, who has also served as Chief Financial Officer over the past eight years, was involved in the creation of RBI through the acquisitions of Burger King in 2010, Tim Hortons in 2014, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen in 2017. “I am very proud of the talented team that we have built at RBI,” Schwartz says. “This is a natural transition of roles for all of us, and reflects how we were already beginning to operate the business day-to-day. I have great optimism for what I believe our team will achieve, and we are looking forward to sharing further details with the investment community later this year.” Jose Cil, who has been the President of Burger King since 2014, has been promoted to CEO of RBI. Cil’s priority in the new role will be accelerating the global growth of Tim Hortons and Burger King. “I'm excited by the challenge of this new role and I'm thankful to Daniel and my other partners for the vote of confidence to lead RBI on our next journey of growth,” Cil says. “We have three amazing brands, a talented team with an ownership mindset, and passionate, dedicated franchisees that I believe will help us accelerate our long-term growth around the world. Profitable owners and happy guests are the bedrock of our business and I look forward to continuing to grow franchisee profitability and provide our guests an exceptional brand experience when they visit our restaurants.” Josh Kobza has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer of RBI, following seven years as an executive in the business, including as CFO from 2013 through 2017, and as Chief Technology and Development Officer in 2018. As the head of global development, he was responsible for leading the acquisitions of Tim Hortons and Popeyes. In his new role, Kobza will continue to oversee the establishment of new international franchise partnerships as well as the implementation of the company's technology initiatives. “I am proud to have been involved in the creation of what RBI is today, and I share the team's enthusiasm for what the future holds for the business,” Kobza says. “I look forward to supporting the growth of our three strong brands, including by attracting and retaining top talent, ensuring excellence in our supply chain and business services, establishing new franchise partnerships with best-in-class operators, and driving the evolution of our digital and technology agenda.”