The quick-service restaurant group has promoted former Popeyes President Sami Siddiqui to group Chief Financial Officer and Thiago Santelmo as President of International – responsible for the Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs brands across 14 markets outside of North America
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RBI currently operates 31,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Sub outlets globally | Photo credit: Tim Hortons
Restaurant Brands International (RBI) has announced senior leadership changes to drive its goal of reaching 40,000 stores and $60bn in sales globally by 2028.
The Toronto-based quick-service restaurant group, which currently operates 31,000 Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Sub outlets across 16 markets globally, has appointed long-serving executive Sami Siddiqui as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately.
Siddiqui, who succeeds Matt Dunnigan in the role, joined RBI in 2013 and has held various senior leadership roles across the group, including President of Tim Hortons Canada, Chief Financial Officer of Burger King, President of RBI Asia Pacific and, most recently, President of Popeyes.
In a press release, RBI said Popeyes achieved record levels of sales, restaurant growth and profitability under Siddiqui’s leadership.
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The quick-service restaurant group has also appointed Thiago Santelmo as President of International – responsible for Tim Hortons, Burger King, Popeyes and Firehouse Subs outlets across 14 markets outside of Canada and the US.
Santelmo also joined RBI in 2013 and had held several positions focused on growth in Latin America and new market entries in Europe and the Middle East. He assumes the President of International role following a two-year stint as President of EMEA.
A third leadership change sees Jeff Klein succeed Siddiqui as President of Popeyes US and Canada.
“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,” said Josh Kobza, CEO, RBI.
Tim Hortons achieved 7.6% year-on-year sales growth in Canada and the US last year to reach $7.2bn, while its international revenues reached $600m.
RBI currently operates 3,894 Tim Hortons stores in Canada, more than 630 sites in the US and over 1,300 in international markets. In February 2024, Canadian coffee chain Tim Hortons announced plans to enter Panama this year – which would be its 18th market globally.