Burger King Champ will open WTM in London

Barry Gibbons, former CEO of the US-based Burger King Corporation – and the man dubbed the “Turn Around Champ” – officially opens World Travel Market 2012, the leading global event for the travel

Barry Gibbons, former CEO of the US-based Burger King Corporation – and the man dubbed the “Turn Around Champ” – officially opens World Travel Market 2012, the leading global event for the travel industry, on Monday, November 5, at ExCel London.

He will talk about creating and maintaining business in a phenomenally tough economic climate.

“Within a year of taking over the role of CEO of Burger King, Barry was opening two new restaurants a day around the world, attracting thousands of hungry travelers on a budget,” said Fiona Jeffery OBE, Chairman of World Travel Market, “During 5 years as chief of one of the world’s leading fast-food chains, he received international recognition for his outstanding business performance.”

When Gibbons took over running the US-based Burger King in 1989 as part of the Pillsbury Group by the UK company, Grand Metropolitan, it was losing money with not one of its international businesses in a healthy state.

At the time, the average US$1million annual profit a year compared dismally with their main rival of MacDonald’s US$1.5million. Franchisees were earning poor profits, and many restaurants were short staffed, dirty, and badly in need of renovation.

Within 4 years, Gibbons made a pre-tax profit of $250 million, trading positively in 55 countries.

At the time, Burger King also had no representation in the UK. He acquired the Wimpey brand and converted key outlets, giving them a solid platform for today’s thriving UK business.

In his first week in the job, he persuaded Burger King’s managers to view the business from a customer perspective – “a bad cup of coffee at the end of a meal is just as damaging as a bad advertising campaign.”

Gibbons had been the former Chairman and Managing Director of Grand Metropolitan’s US$1 billion operation of 2,000 restaurants and pubs in Britain and Europe.

“Getting through some of the worst economic times in living memory is uppermost in the industry’s minds right now, particularly in UK and Europe,” said Jeffery, “We hope that World Travel Market can help play its part in connecting travel businesses, sectors, and markets for mutual, sustainable benefit.

“Barry Gibbons was a businessman at the top of his game in a highly competitive global field,” added Jeffery, “As our Guest of Honor and as an excellent speaker, he will put a different and altogether fresh, innovative perspective on business. He will demonstrate to travel companies and the industry as a whole what can be learnt from managing a global brand as well as the challenges of franchising and brand consistencies in a global market.”

Fortune Magazine first gave Barry Gibbons the title of “Turn Around Champ” after his phenomenal success in boosting Burger King’s fortunes. Gibbons retired in 1994 from Burger King aged just 44, largely because he prefers to build companies, not simply maintain them. He went on to become a successful entrepreneur and author.

He has written 6 business books, notably “If You Want to Make God Really Laugh, Show Him Your Business Plan,” containing what Gibbons considers to be the 101 Universal Laws of Business.

He has also given more than 250 speeches on 4 continents to some of the world’s most respected and successful companies.

“Barry’s experiences, anecdotes, humor, and practical tips are as relevant today as they have ever been,” said Jeffery, “Barry believes in leading rather than managing; in the importance of energizing a workforce; crucially ensuring that a brand personality runs throughout every aspect of an organization; and developing a relationship with customers that goes beyond satisfaction.

“When a downturn hits hard, survival and future prosperity can depend on establishing or re-establishing a connection with all kinds of stakeholders. This is part of Barry Gibbons’ overriding business philosophy, which we hope will help uplift and invigorate the industry in this highly challenging era.”
World Travel Market’s Opening Ceremony is on Monday, November 5, 1130 am, Platinum Suite 3 and 4, ExCeL London.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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