BK taps Ramirez to head global opsBK taps Ramirez to head global ops

MIAMI Burger King Holdings Inc. has appointed 23-year company veteran Julio Ramirez as executive vice president of global operations, filling the vacancy left by the departure of James Hyatt.

Hyatt resigned as chief global operations officer and executive vice president to join the Cosi sandwich chain as president and chief executive.

Ramirez, who reports to Burger King chief executive John Chidsey, was previously president of the burger chain’s Latin America region. His performance there made Ramirez the natural choice as Hyatt's successor, Chidsey said.

Ramirez started his career at Burger King in 1984 in operations and promotions positions. Burger King Holdings has a system of more than 11,200 namesake units worldwide, with approximately 90 percent owned and operated by franchisees.