Restaurant Brands International (RBI) has unveiled significant changes to its senior leadership team, a strategic move aimed at bolstering the company's ambitious growth targets.
The Canada-based quick-service restaurant group, which operates 31,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Sub outlets globally, has appointed Sami Siddiqui as the new chief financial officer (CFO), effective immediately.
Siddiqui, who has been with RBI since 2013, takes over from Matt Dunnigan and brings a wealth of experience from senior roles within the group.
Under his leadership, Popeyes achieved record sales, growth and profitability.
RBI's leadership restructuring also includes the appointment of Thiago Santelmo as president of international business, overseeing operations across 14 markets outside Canada and the US.
Santelmo, another long-term RBI executive, has a strong track record in expanding the group's presence in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.
Jeff Klein steps in as president of Popeyes US and Canada, succeeding Siddiqui.
Klein, who joined the Popeyes leadership team two years ago as chief marketing officer, has over 25 years of marketing and consumer insights experience.
The leadership changes support the company's long-term growth outlook of reaching at least 40,000 restaurants, $60bn in system-wide sales and $3.2bn in adjusted operating income by 2028.
Restaurant Brands International CEO Josh Kobza said: “Sami, Thiago and Jeff are proven, valuable leaders in the company and I'm looking forward to working with them as we deliver on our next phase of growth.
"Sami has deep finance and operational experience which makes him a great partner to our presidents as we deliver on our growth plans across the company. Thiago has spent his career building master franchisee relationships and working closely with them to develop new markets.
“This will serve him well as we accelerate net restaurant growth internationally in the coming years. Jeff has two decades of marketing and consumer insight experience with large, well-known brands, and will bring this guest-centered approach to making Popeyes easy to love across the US and Canada.”
