Burger King chief executive officer Bernardo Hees will become the next chief of ketchup producer HJ Heinz, following its $28bn acquisition by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway and Brazilian private-equity firm 3G Capital.
However, Hees will continue with Burger King, which was acquired by 3G Capital, by taking up the role of the company's vice chairman once the Heinz deal closes, or 1 July.
Before joining Burger King in September 2010, Hees was the CEO of America Latina Logistica, the largest railroad and logistics company in Latin America.
Bernardo Hees will be succeeding Heinz CEO William Johnson, who led Heinz over a period of 15 years and transformed it into a global food company that sells ketchup as well as other food products.
Meanwhile, Burger King's current chief financial officer Daniel Schwartz is being promoted to chief operating officer. He will become its new CEO effective 1 July.
In February, Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital entered into an agreement to acquire American food company HJ Heinz for $28bn.
The transaction is subject to approval by Heinz shareholders, receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013.
HJ Heinz is a global company that produces and markets foods specialising in ketchup, sauces, meals, soups, snacks and infant nutrition. The US company reported sales of $2.83bn in the second quarter of fiscal 2013, up from $2.81bn in the previous year.