Leadership

Burger King owner names Josh Kobza chief technology officer

Restaurant Brands International also named Matt Dunnigan CFO.

Burger King owner Restaurant Brands International on Monday named Josh Kobza the company’s new chief technology and development officer.

The position will give the former CFO oversight over technology efforts at the Canadian quick-service operator’s three brands, which also include Tim Hortons and Popeyes.

Matt Dunnigan, who had been RBI’s treasurer, has been tapped to replace Kobza as CFO.

“Josh’s track record of success in his most recent role includes not only building a strong finance team but also leading the ambitious expansion of our brands globally,” RBI CEO Daniel Schwartz said in a statement. “This new challenge will allow him to continue to have a big impact on our success.” He called the company’s digital and technology efforts “the most critical area of any consumer business today.”

Kobza had been CFO at RBI since its creation in 2014 with the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons, and before that had been Burger King’s CFO since 2013.

He takes over technology efforts at a time that the company’s brands find themselves working to catch up with many of their rivals, such as coffee chains Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts and the burger giant McDonald’s—all of whom have placed enormous resources into their digital efforts.

“I’m personally very excited for this new challenge and the opportunity to focus more intensely on our restaurants and guests,” Kobza said in a statement. He said he is “looking forward to finding new ways technology can help us enhance” customer experience.

Dunnigan, meanwhile, has been RBI’s treasurer since 2014 and has led the company’s activities in capital markets during that time. He had previously been vice president of Crescent Capital Group and was an investment professional for H.I.G. Capital.

Schwartz called Dunnigan a “natural successor” to Kobza as CFO.

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