Canadian coffee shop-bakery chain, Tim Hortons has appointed Kevin Hydes as its new UK Chief Finance & Commercial Officer. Hydes will oversee business strategy, brand execution and development.
Tim Hortons opened its first British and European restaurant on Argyle Street in Glasgow, at the start of June. The long-awaited launch was met with much excitement, with customers travelling from across the country and queuing overnight to be the first to try the brand’s famous coffee and baked goods.
Hydes is charged with delivering a concept that is unique to the UK market – namely one that places an equal emphasis on freshly-prepared food and on great value coffee. Hydes will deliver a business plan that’s rooted in customer insight and puts the customer first by offering the warmth, charm and efficiency they will come to expect at Tim Hortons.
Hydes’ previously spent 11 years at Costa Coffee, overseeing the marketing function in the UK during a significant period of growth, winning Brand of the year in 2011 and becoming market leader in 2012. More recently in the role of International & Brand Development Director he was responsible for managing and developing brand execution across both equity international markets in Poland, Singapore and France and for franchise operations across 26 markets in Europe, the Middle East and South-East Asia.
Kevin Hydes commented, “It’s not often you get the chance to help bring an international brand as exciting as Tim Hortons to the UK. The opportunity to lead and grow the business in a competitive market like Great Britain was too good to miss.”
Gopi Dhaliwal, COO Tim Hortons UK and Ireland, added, “We’re delighted to have attracted someone of Kevin’s calibre to Tim Hortons. Kevin brings an enormous wealth of experience from his time at Costa Coffee, and his expertise of quickly scaling food and drink retail brands will be vital to our long-term ambitions in Great Britain.”