TORONTO — Joshua Kobza has been appointed CEO of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), effective March 1, 2023.
Kobza has held increasingly senior roles with the company over the last 11 years, including Chief Financial Officer (2013-2018), Chief Technology Officer and Development Officer (2018-2019) and Chief Operating Officer (2019-2023), including accountability for strategy, technology, human resources, global procurement, supply chain and international development. Kobza was integral to the acquisitions of Tim Hortons in 2014, Popeyes in 2017 and Firehouse Subs in 2021.
In his new role, Kobza will report to and work together with Patrick Doyle, industry veteran and executive chairman of RBI. José Cil will remain with the company for one year as an advisor and assist in the transition.
“Over the past several years, the Board of Directors has worked with management to build a thoughtful succession plan for key positions, so this is a natural transition for Josh to lead our next phase of growth. Personally, I’m motivated to work with and help such a talented person like Josh as he steps into this new leadership position,” says Doyle. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank José for his unwavering dedication and passion for growing our restaurant brands and for the progress we have made, most recently evidenced by our latest quarterly results. José has been an exceptional partner and friend and he has all of our thanks and support as he becomes a valued strategic advisor to the company.”
“We’ve made great progress over the past few years and I’m very proud of the team we have built at RBI. I’ve worked closely with Josh for many years and I am looking forward to supporting him through this transition as we work to accelerate our business further,” says Cil.
“I am excited to lead the company and work closely with our business presidents to put our franchisees at the center of our success and accelerate the growth we know our brands are capable of,” says Kobza.
