People to Watch In International Business

By Julie Norwell

Chuck Brymer REBRANDING

The Internet has forced advertisers to rethink their approach in order to reach increasingly distracted, multitasking, multimedia customers. That puts an even greater premium on creativity, which is just what Chuck Brymer plans to bring to the table as the new CEO of DDB Worldwide, the $1 billion global advertising agency whose clients include McDonald's and Johnson & Johnson. Brymer succeeds Ken Kaess, who died March 27. A former branding consultant, Brymer knows the importance of developing great ideas that form lasting impressions in our overcrowded minds. "Customers are smarter, more capable of tuning you out," he says. What was that, Chuck? Just kidding.

Paul House HIS CUP RUNNETH OVER

Canadians were exuberant when Tim Hortons, one of Canada's most famous restaurant chains, which Wendy's will spin off by year-end, went public last month. But CEO Paul House wasn't surprised. "All the indications were that this was going to be a very popular IPO," House said. Tim Hortons, named for its co-founder, a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey great, had sales of $1.2 billion in 2005. The chain serves doughnuts, coffee and lunch fare in 2,611 outlets across Canada. There are 292 stores in the U.S., which House hopes to increase to 500. The U.S. market has such entrenched rivals as Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. But that doesn't keep House awake at night. "We'll do just what we do in Canada. We offer a high-quality range of products at a really great price value."

Kate Swann NEW VOICE FOR AN OLD FIRM

British Land made Swann the first woman director at the 150-year-old company. It is one of Britain's largest property-investment firms, with holdings such as London's Broadgate offices and 43 Sainsbury's superstores. Swann, CEO of WH Smith, Britain's largest magazine and book retailer, brings valuable retail expertise. She is winning kudos for turning around WH Smith, which was headed for major losses when she took over in late 2003. "Kate Swann, who has the CEO experience that boards want and is a woman, is a very attractive candidate," said Constance Bagley, an expert on Britain and corporate governance at Harvard. And worth the wait.