Josh Kobza

Josh Kobza serves as CEO of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of four iconic quick-service restaurant brands: Burger King (the #2 global hamburger chain), Tim Hortons (Canada's dominant coffee and donut chain), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (the fastest-growing chicken QSR), and Firehouse Subs (premium hot subs). RBI operates over 30,000 restaurants across 100+ countries, primarily through a franchise model where franchisees own and operate the restaurants while RBI collects royalties and fees. The most critical initiative is the "Reclaim the Flame" turnaround plan for Burger King U.S. — a $900 million investment over several years to modernize restaurants, improve operations, enhance digital capabilities, and revamp the menu. Burger King's U.S. business had underperformed McDonald's and Wendy's for years, losing market share due to inconsistent operations and underinvestment. The turnaround is showing early signs of progress but remains a multi-year effort. RBI was created by 3G Capital (the Brazilian private equity firm known for aggressive cost-cutting) through the 2014 merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons, with Popeyes added in 2017 and Firehouse Subs in 2021. The franchise-heavy model generates high-margin royalty revenue with limited capital requirements. Key stock drivers include comparable sales growth at each brand, Burger King U.S. turnaround progress, Tim Hortons competitive position versus McDonald's Canada, Popeyes international expansion, net restaurant growth, and digital/delivery adoption rates.