Burger King’s new CEO Bernardo Hees has ticked off some customers in Jolly Old England after an off-the-cuff remark he made during a recent lecture made its way across the pond.

Former railway executive Hees popped by to talk to students at the University of Chicago last week and amid all the talk about Whoppers, he waxed anything but nostalgic for his days getting his MBA at the University of Warwick in England.

“The food is terrible and the women are not very attractive [in England],” the Chicago Maroon quotes Hees as saying. “Here in Chicago the food is good, and you are known for good-looking women.”

[Ed. note: Quoth Chicago native Meghann Marco regarding that latter statement: “Aw shucks, Bernie.”]

After the comments began getting press in England, a rep for BK released the following statement to the Guardian: “Mr Hees apologizes if his comment has offended anyone. It… was intended as a humorous anecdote to connect with his audience.”

Burger Kings surprise CAPS [Chicago Maroon]
Burger King boss Bernardo Hees insults British women and food [Guardian]

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