It’s musical chairs at Burger King Corp. again. The Miami-based QSR last week announced a reorganization that resulted in the resignation of president-North America Mikel Durham and the appointment of a new marketing chief.

New chairman-ceo John Dasburg merged the North America unit with International and streamlined top jobs to report directly to him, with new assignments expected over the next few months for chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and general counsel.

Named top marketer was Chris Clouser, who had been ceo of Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins organization. His resume includes work as president-ceo of online travel portal Preview Travel (which merged with Travelocity.com in March 2000). Dasburg and Clouser worked together as president and senior vp-advertising and communications, respectively, at Northwest Airlines in the 1990s.

According to Dasburg, the new centralized structure will play to BK’s four strongest assets: exceptional brands; the Whopper; substantial investment in flame broiling; and franchisees. “We are building a team that understands our extraordinary assets and will move us into the next phase of growth,” says Dasburg.

Durham joined BK last August from sister Diageo plc company Guinness; some franchisees criticized the executive’s lack of restaurant experience (January PROMO).

It’s musical chairs at Burger King Corp. again. The Miami-based QSR last week announced a reorganization that resulted in the resignation of president-North America Mikel Durham and the appointment of a new marketing chief.

New chairman-ceo John Dasburg merged the North America unit with International and streamlined top jobs to report directly to him, with new assignments expected over the next few months for chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and general counsel.

Named top marketer was Chris Clouser, who had been ceo of Major League Baseball’s Minnesota Twins organization. His resume includes work as president-ceo of online travel portal Preview Travel (which merged with Travelocity.com in March 2000). Dasburg and Clouser worked together as president and senior vp-advertising and communications, respectively, at Northwest Airlines in the 1990s.

According to Dasburg, the new centralized structure will play to BK’s four strongest assets: exceptional brands; the Whopper; substantial investment in flame broiling; and franchisees. “We are building a team that understands our extraordinary assets and will move us into the next phase of growth,” says Dasburg.

Durham joined BK last August from sister Diageo plc company Guinness; some franchisees criticized the executive’s lack of restaurant experience (January PROMO).