HispanicBusiness

MIAMI, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger King Corporation today announced that it has appointed Russ Klein as its new chief marketing officer. "This is another milestone in our quest to attract and bring together a highly motivated and experienced executive leadership team," said Brad Blum, chief executive officer, Burger King Corporation.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990804/FLW005-a )

"Russ has a track record of proven marketing leadership working with such brands as Gatorade(R), 7 UP(R), Maytag(R), Wilson Sporting Goods(R), Keebler(R) Cookies, Kimberly-Clark(R) and United Airlines(R). His achievements are widely known and have been recognized by organizations such as The American Marketing Association (two product of the year awards and four EFFIES), Gallagher Reports (Outstanding Marketer of the Year), Advertising Age (a Top-100 Marketer) and Brandweek (twice named to their Marketers of the Year list)," said Mr. Blum.

Mr. Klein most recently served as chief marketing officer of 7-Eleven, Inc. where he was responsible for marketing across 5,800 stores in North America. "I am grateful to have had the privilege to work with such a dynamic and progressive retail brand in 7-Eleven. I wish for them continued success," said Mr. Klein.

Prior to 7-Eleven, Klein headed a small Chicago-based private equity investment group. He has also served as executive vice president and managing director of Foote Cone & Belding Advertising, Inc. In that capacity, Mr. Klein led the teams that created fully integrated marketing/advertising programs that helped Gatorade achieve four consecutive years of record sales and profits despite fierce competition from several well-funded competitors. Mr. Klein also developed the marketing platform used for the introduction of Gatorade Frost, a new product with year-one sales exceeding $150 million.

Prior to Foot Cone & Belding Advertising, Inc., Mr. Klein was senior vice president and executive officer for Dr. Pepper/Seven-Up Companies, Inc., where he led the company's marketing team and worked closely with its over 400 independent bottlers, developing and successfully introducing new products, including Cherry 7 UP.

"Russ is also known for his ability to insightfully manage brand equity. For example, under his leadership, the 7 UP brand, generally considered to be in need of a turnaround at the time, climbed in every measure of brand quality and awareness, ultimately leading all carbonated soft drinks in efficiency of dollars spent to support brand awareness and market share," Mr. Blum said. "Russ' experiences are indicative of his ability to improve recognition of an underachieving brand and further demonstrates his leadership, creativity and ability to execute on strategic initiatives. He is known as a leader, a team builder and a mentor. All qualities that will serve BURGER KING(R) well."

"I am highly enthusiastic about the opportunity to help take the BURGER KING(R) brand to new levels of excellence, consumer awareness and achievement," said Mr. Klein.

"Russ will be an integral member of our Executive Leadership Team, overseeing consumer insight and strategic branding; product research and development; product and field marketing; and all advertising and media responsibilities," Mr. Blum said.

"This is a huge opportunity to take an already great brand and maximize its enormous potential," Mr. Klein said. "The BURGER KING(R) executive leadership team is highly credentialed and understands the powerful influence of great operations and great marketing. Simplification and thoughtful innovation around these two strategic initiatives will deliver an enjoyable and meaningful restaurant experience that consumers will increasingly seek out as a routine part of their busy lives."

"The great new marketing and advertising campaign developed by Young & Rubicam and scheduled to begin on Sunday, May 25, will communicate the brand's compelling fire-grilled advantage and rekindle a warm emotional connection with consumers. It will bring those already coming to our restaurants in greater frequency and will attract new guests with our promise of the best burgers in the business and a variety of healthy alternatives because we cook over an open fire. Consumers consistently say that BURGER KING'S food cooked over an open fire brings out the flavor naturally and results in a better tasting product that is fresher and is a healthier way to prepare food," said Mr. Klein.

"An emphasis on operations excellence, leveraged by the new marketing effort, should help us achieve or goal of making BURGER KING(R) the leader in the category, dramatically enhancing our revenue growth and profitability," said Mr. Klein.

Mr. Klein is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program and was granted a Distinctive Alumni Award from Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business. He has been a frequent invited speaker in both industry and academic symposiums, including the distinguished lecture series at Harvard Business School. Mr. Klein has served on a number of corporate boards for charitable foundations, including the Jackie Robinson Foundation and the Jesse Owens Foundation. He and his wife, Lori, have three children and will be relocating to Miami, Florida.

About BURGER KING(R)

Burger King Corporation and its franchisees operate more than 11,400 restaurants in all 50 states and 57 countries and territories around the world, with 91% of BURGER KING(R) restaurants owned and operated by independent franchisees. Since the company's founding in Miami in 1954, the BURGER KING(R) brand has become recognized for the great taste of Fire Grilling, HAVE IT YOUR WAY(R) and the WHOPPER(R). In fiscal year 2002, ending June 30, 2002, the BURGER KING(R) system had system-wide sales of $11.3 billion. Burger King Corporation is owned by the equity sponsor group comprised of Texas Pacific Group, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital. To learn more about the BURGER KING(R) system, please visit the company's website at http://www.burgerking.com/. Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990804/FLW005-aAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, 888-776-6555 or 212-782-2840 Burger King Corporation

CONTACT: Rob Doughty, Burger King, +1-305-378-7277, orrdoughty@whopper.com

Web site: http://www.burgerking.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/gh/cnoc/comp/124650.html