Burger King Corporation announced the appointment of Natalia Franco as executive vice president and global chief marketing officer, effective May 17. In this executive leadership position, Franco will be responsible for the company’s global marketing function, overseeing product innovation, consumer insights, and the development, implementation, and communication of the Burger King brand’s marketing and advertising strategies worldwide. She will be based in the company’s world headquarters in Miami, and will serve on the company’s global executive team, reporting to John W. Chidsey, chairman and CEO.
“Natalia is a seasoned marketing professional with a wealth of consumer marketing experience and we are fortunate to have her join our team,” Chidsey says. “Her global perspective and diverse background working for a number of well-known and world-class companies positions her well to help strategically drive the Burger King brand forward.”
Franco most recently served as vice president of global marketing and innovation for the Coca-Cola Company, where she was responsible for all cross-functional marketing efforts for the McDonald’s Division, including R&D, consumer insights, marketing, and operations innovation, working with business units around the world. Prior to joining the Coca-Cola Company, Franco worked for General Mills Inc., where she held a variety of U.S. domestic and international marketing positions of increasing responsibility. Earlier in her career, she gained extensive international marketing experience with Savoy Brands International in Bogotá, Colombia, and with Unilever in Panama and Colombia.
“The Burger King system is a highly dynamic and well-regarded brand and I am delighted to be joining this team,” Franco says. “I am confident that my past professional experiences and my consumer-centric marketing approach will further enhance the brand’s perception and awareness and help drive increased guest visits to our restaurants and profitable sales around the world.”
Franco holds a C.S.S. graduate degree in business management with a concentration in marketing from Harvard University and a graduate degree in trading trends, merchandising, and retailing from the Universidad de Valencia in Valencia, Spain. She also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration in Colombia.
