Hertz Global Holdings announced that Tracy Gehlan has joined the company as chief operations officer for Hertz International. Reporting to Michel Taride, group president of Hertz International, Gehlan is based at the car rental company's international headquarters near London.

In this newly created position Gehlan has assumed overall responsibility for delivering sustained growth, efficiency and "best in class" customer service across the company's wholly owned operations in Europe and Asia Pacific.

Gehlan brings 23 years of operating expertise in a fast-moving retail environment from her leadership roles including Smashburger Master, Burger King Corporation, and The Restaurant Group.

Previously, as managing director/CEO of Smashburger U.K., Gehlan led the entry of the U.S. Smashburger fast food hamburger chain into the U.K. market and developed the company's plans to expand across Europe. In her 11-year career with Burger King, Gehlan most recently served five years as chief operations officer for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, where she optimized the business across the region's franchised and wholly owned restaurants throughout 42 countries.

Prior to joining Burger King, Gehlan served in operational management positions over a nine-year period at The Restaurant Group. Gehlan has also held a non-executive directorship with the British Retail Consortium as board member for Scottish Retail Consortium (2008-2011).