Tim Hortons appoints Vinay Kumar as Head of IT to drive digital strategy

Tim Hortons has appointed Vinay Kumar as Head of IT, reinforcing its focus on strengthening technology leadership to support business and digital transformation.

Kumar will lead the company’s IT strategy, with a mandate to align technology initiatives with long-term growth and operational efficiency. His role will involve driving innovation across systems, processes, and customer-facing digital capabilities.

With close to 25 years of experience in IT management, Kumar brings cross-industry expertise spanning retail and enterprise technology. Prior to this role, he served as CIO at McDonald’s India North and East, where he led large-scale digital and operational initiatives.

His experience includes managing end-to-end technology integration across business processes, including ERP systems and mobile-based applications, along with leading enterprise transformation programs.

Based in the company’s regional headquarters, Kumar will work closely with leadership to strengthen IT’s role as a strategic enabler rather than a support function. His appointment reflects a broader shift in retail and QSR sectors, where technology is increasingly central to customer experience, operational agility, and data-driven decision-making.

From an AI and martech perspective, the role is expected to support initiatives around digital ordering, customer engagement, and backend automation. As brands in the quick-service segment expand their digital footprint, IT leadership is becoming critical in integrating platforms, scaling infrastructure, and enabling real-time insights.

The move highlights how global retail chains are investing in senior technology roles to accelerate transformation and remain competitive in an increasingly digital-first environment.