Burger King Corp. announced the appointment of Kevin Higgins as president of its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, based at the company’s EMEA headquarters in Zug, Switzerland. As part of the Burger King global executive team, Higgins will report to chairman and CEO John Chidsey.

Higgins will begin his new role in August, replacing Peter Robinson, who will complete his three-year commitment to the company in October.

“Kevin’s industry and multinational experience are significant assets to our business and we are pleased to have him on board,” Chidsey says. “We’ve made considerable strides in the past few years in Europe and the Middle East and we thank Peter Robinson for his contributions to our business. We are confident that through Kevin’s leadership, we will continue to build on our accomplishments in the region.”

“Burger King’s signature products are known and loved all around the world and I am excited to join such a dynamic and iconic brand,” Higgins says. “I am confident that my experience in the restaurant industry will enable us to build upon the brand’s recent growth and success in the EMEA region.”

Higgins’ career spans more than 20 years in the consumer foods industry in Europe and the United States. Most recently, he served as general manager of Yum! Brands Europe and Russia Franchise Business Unit in Geneva, Switzerland, where he led a multifunctional and multinational management team. Under Higgins the business unit opened more than 100 new units per year and launched Taco Bell and the Pizza Hut Delivery (PHD) brand in Europe.

Previously, he held a variety of positions at Yum in its UK office, including in the areas of development, franchisee development, and finance. Prior to joining Yum, Higgins worked for Pepsico Restaurants in London and for M&M/ Mars Inc. in the UK and the U.S.