MIAMI, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger King Corporation today announced
organizational changes within its Marketing department that will further align
the Company's marketing resources and strategic objectives. These changes are
effective immediately.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031014/BKLOGO )
"These moves reflect my tremendous confidence in a team of deserving
professionals who have been responsible for the recent improvements in our
business," said Russ Klein, executive vice president and chief marketing
officer. "More importantly, these individuals, along with their teams, will
help to continue to drive momentum for the brand."
Brian Gies has been promoted to vice president, Marketing Impact,
reporting to Klein. In his new role, Gies will lead Burger King Corporation's
Marketing Impact Team, responsible for promotions, merchandising, advertising
and media planning and buying. Since joining the Company in 1993, Gies has
held various positions with increasing responsibility. Most recently, he was
senior director, Youth & Family Marketing, responsible for all marketing
efforts targeted to kids and their families. Prior to this, he was director,
Region Marketing for the Southeast region, as well as manager, National
Promotions; and manager, Brand Delivery. Reporting to Gies is Cindy Syracuse,
senior director, Sponsorships and Promotions; Gillian Smith, senior director,
Media and Global Collaboration; Andy Bonaparte, senior director, Advertising
and Multi-Cultural Marketing; and Ben Morse, director, Merchandising, along
with their teams.
Cindy Syracuse has been appointed senior director, Sponsorships and
Promotions. In her expanded role, Syracuse is responsible for the kids'
marketing promotions role previously held by Gies, in addition to her current
role of strategic development, planning and execution of all national adult
promotions, including new entertainment tie-ins, sponsorships and alliances.
Since joining Burger King Corporation in 1993, Syracuse has held various
positions within Burger King Corporation including senior director, Marketing
Communications; director of Interactive & Adult Promotions; manager of
Advertising; and manager of Promotions.
Gillian Smith has been promoted to senior director, Media and Global
Collaboration, and is responsible for managing all aspects of Burger King
Corporation's media buying and planning, as well as all interactive
initiatives. Smith will also spearhead global collaboration efforts for the
brand. Prior to this, Smith held a variety of positions at Burger King
Corporation, including manager of Advertising; and manager, Product Marketing.
Andy Bonaparte, senior director, Advertising and Multi-Cultural Marketing,
expands his current role, which includes responsibility for directing the
creative development of all advertising materials related to television, radio
and print, and ensuring that Burger King Corporation's marketing efforts have
an impact on the Company's growing multi-culturally diverse audience.
Additionally, Mike Kappitt has been promoted to vice president, Consumer
Insights & Performance Analysis, reporting directly to Klein. In his new role,
Kappitt will serve as the key internal consumer advocate, applying key
performance measurements at the restaurant level from the customers' point of
view that help ensure new products and operational procedures enhance the
guest experience. Prior to this, Kappitt was senior director, Performance
Analysis. Kappitt replaces Glad Markunas, senior vice president, Consumer
Insights & Strategic Branding, who has left Burger King Corporation to pursue
other endeavors. "Glad has accomplished much and has worked tirelessly for the
BURGER KING(R) brand since joining the Company," said Klein. "She made many
important contributions that represent a strong foundation of consumer
insight."
In the area of Product Marketing, Burger King Corporation earlier this
year, announced the appointment of Denny Post to Chief Concept Officer. Post
oversees all product marketing and product development efforts. She reports
directly to Klein.
Post and her team, which includes Carlos Ribas, senior director, Product
Marketing; John Schaufelberger, senior director, Product Marketing; and Joanne
Lichten, chief nutritionist, are responsible for enhancing current menu items,
as well as optimizing the product pipeline from research and development to
execution in BURGER KING restaurants.
New to Burger King Corporation, Schaufelberger, senior director, Product
Marketing, is responsible for managing the Chicken, Salads, Kid's Products,
Fish and Veggie portfolios. Prior to joining Burger King Corporation this past
June, Schaufelberger was vice president, Marketing, for Arby's in Atlanta.
Dawn Foster, who joined Burger King Corporation in 2003 as manager, Product
Marketing, has also been promoted to director, Product Marketing, reporting to
Schaufelberger. In her new role, Foster is responsible for managing the
Chicken, Fish and Veggie portfolios, including new product development,
product enhancements and promotional builds.
About Burger King Corporation:
The BURGER KING(R) system operates more than 11,220 restaurants in all 50
states and in 60 countries and territories around the world. Ninety-one
percent of BURGER KING restaurants are owned and operated by independent
franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business
for decades.
Burger King Holdings, Inc., the parent company, is private and
independently owned by an equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific
Group, Bain Capital and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners. In fiscal year ending
June 30, 2003, Burger King Corporation had system-wide sales of $11.1 billion.
To learn more about BURGER KING, please visit the company's website at
http://www.burgerking.com.
SOURCE Burger King Corporation
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Company News On-Call:
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CONTACT:
Laina Kawass, Burger King Corporation,
+1-305-378-7277, or lkawass@whopper.com
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