(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Berkshire Hathway’s American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ), a prominent player in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry, has recently made two significant additions to its international business team.
The company, a subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), announced the hiring of Chris Wren as the vice president of development, international, and Greg Kirian as the vice president of marketing, international. These appointments aim to bolster brand awareness and facilitate restaurant growth outside of the United States and Canada.
Chris Wren brings an impressive background of nearly three decades in franchising and the restaurant industry to ADQ. His extensive executive finance and development experience at renowned companies such as CIT Bank, Dine Brands Global, Wingstop, and Yum! Brands make him a valuable asset. In his new role, Wren will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and execution of international business development in both new and existing markets.
Greg Kirian has over two decades of experience in the global food and beverage industry. Having held leadership positions in international marketing at esteemed companies like Little Caesar’s, Wingstop, and Yum! Brands, Kirian is well-equipped to lead brand and marketing strategies for ADQ’s international markets.
The decision to hire strong leaders in marketing and development roles aligns with ADQ’s ambitious business goals of expanding their global footprint beyond the United States and Canada.
Nicolas Boudet, the chief operating officer, international at American Dairy Queen Corporation, emphasized the criticality of such leadership to achieve their objectives. Boudet expressed confidence in both Wren and Kirian, commending their impressive and diverse portfolios of experience in global businesses. Their expertise will be instrumental in driving DQ restaurant growth and enhancing brand awareness in new and existing markets worldwide.
Chris Wren and Greg Kirian both hold master’s degrees in business administration from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
International Dairy Queen, Inc. (IDQ), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, acts as the parent company for American Dairy Queen Corporation (ADQ) and Dairy Queen Canada, Inc. With a presence in over 20 countries, IDQ operates a system of more than 7,000 restaurants.
© 2023 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell a stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.