The global head of Burger King has called Britain’s women “not very attractive” and its food “terrible”.
Bernardo Hees was talking to a group of American students in Chicago about his days studying for an MBA at the University of Warwick when he made the comments, which a spokesman said were “intended as a humorous anecdote”.
After releasing the barbs about British women and cuisine, Hees turned his attention to the town where he was speaking. He said: "In Britain the food is terrible and the women are not very attractive. Here in Chicago, the food is good and you are known for your good-looking women".
Across the Atlantic, Hees’s comments were condemned by Charli Fritzner, women’s campaigns officer for Warwick University’s student union.
She said: "If he views women as potential distractions in academia, I wonder how he views them in the workplace? It doesn't make Burger King an attractive employer for women."
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And Marcus Wareing, chef patron at London’s Berkeley Hotel, joined in the approbation, saying: "It's an insult to British gastronomy."
Brazilian-born Hees, 40, a former railway executive, was appointed chief executive of Burger King's, which has 11,500 restaurants worldwide in September, shortly after the company was bought 4bn by a Brazilian private equity firm, 3G Capital.
A statement for Burger King said: "Mr Hees apologises if his comment has offended anyone. It ... was intended as a humorous anecdote to connect with his audience."