BK Announces New Structure

Burger King Corporation announced several key appointments within its worldwide finance organization and Information Systems that will enable the company to execute its current business turnaround plan, manage its eventual separation from parent company Diageo, plc., and be ready to operate as a stand alone company following the separation.

"This new structure provides for a more unified finance organization that will support our current turnaround efforts by utilizing the strengths of our talented finance team and providing more financial support for critical business decision-making,'' said Bennett Nussbaum, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Burger King Corporation. "It also aligns our resources to enable operation of Burger King Corporation as a stand-alone company, once we have separated from Diageo.''

Under this new organization, Maureen Bellantoni will assume the newly created role of senior vice president, finance. In this capacity, Bellantoni will use her experience in strategic planning to build worldwide financial capabilities for business management. Bellantoni will also oversee the separation process of Burger King Corporation from Diageo.

Within Bellantoni's group, Jay Samuels, currently director, US financial planning and analysis, has been promoted to senior director, worldwide planning and reporting. In this role, Samuels will utilize his experience in planning and reporting to unify this critical worldwide function and to ensure that worldwide planning and reporting standards are directly aligned and support worldwide strategy and vision.

Nikka Copeland, currently director, business development, has been promoted to senior director, business development, reporting directly to Nussbaum. In this role, Copeland will oversee the highly specialized areas of acquisitions and divestitures, system optimization and franchisee financial support.

Albert Couto, currently U.S. controller, has been promoted to senior director, operations finance, reporting directly to Nussbaum. Couto will be the single point of contact for company restaurant and franchise finance, as well as for real estate and construction finance.

Another key appointment announced by Burger King Corporation is the promotion of Rafael Sanchez from vice president, technology and infrastructure to chief information officer, reporting directly to Nussbaum. In this role, Sanchez will oversee all aspects of information technology, including restaurant systems, enterprise systems and marketing and operations information technology support.