People Moves: Peet’s, Dunkin’ Brands Name New CEOs

Peet’s Announces Former Wrigley Prez as CEO

Peet’s Coffee announced today the appointment of Kenneth “Casey” Keller as CEO effective August 6 following the departure of Dave Burwick, who left the company in February to take the chief executive role at Samuel Adams-maker Boston Beer Company.

Keller joins the company having most recently served as global president of Wm. Wrigley Jr., a subdivision of Mars, Inc. responsible for Wrigley brand gum and mints.

Prior to his position with Wrigley, Keller held executive level positions with Alberto Culver, Motorola, HJ Heinz and Procter & Gamble. He currently is a member of the Board of Directors for water and coffee direct-to-consumer delivery company Cott.

“We are thrilled to have Casey joining Peet’s as CEO,” said chairman Olivier Goudet in a press release. “Casey has an impressive track record in the CPG space and his focus on growth and long-term value creation makes him the ideal leader for Peet’s. We have ambitious plans at Peet’s and Casey has the unique expertise and terrific experience to continue growing this great company.”

A Peet’s spokesperson reached by BevNET referred questions to the press release.

“Peet’s has been a pioneer in the craft and ready-to-drink coffee segment and I am excited to continue the Peet’s tradition through the company’s next phase of growth,” Keller said in the release. “I’ve long admired Peet’s leadership in specialty and craft coffee, and I am eager to get to work with the entire Peet’s team.”

Keller joins Peet’s, which is owned by JAB Holdings Company, as it expands it ready-to-drink offerings and focuses on building its own cold chain delivery network, Coldcraft. In April, the company announced launched a RTD iced espresso line which will compete with grab-and-go offerings from brands such as Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts. The company has also recently expanded its family of cold brew products, adding a bottled concentrate and a canned nitro cold brew.

Dunkin’ Brands Names New CEO

David Hoffman has been named the new CEO of Dunkin’ Brands, the company announced last week. The move comes after he was hired as president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. in February 2017 with the intent that he would eventually succeed outgoing CEO Nigel Travis upon his retirement.

Hoffman will also join the Board of Directors and will remain as president of the subsidiary.

“When we recruited Dave to Dunkin’ Brands 18 months ago with the intent that he would succeed me as CEO, we knew that we were getting a world-class leader with extensive restaurant industry expertise, and he has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Travis in a press release. “From his development and implementation of the Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. Blueprint for Growth, to the relationships he has forged with our franchisees and the talent management skills he has exhibited, Dave has demonstrated he is exactly the person to lead the next phase of our global growth.”

Travis has been named the executive chairman of the board of directors and will support the company’s growing international business.

According to Bloomberg, Hoffman will have a base salary of $900,000, but incentives could push his income to more than $1.1 million annually.

During Travis’ tenure, the company completed an IPO in 2011 and expanded its CPG offerings, introducing Dunkin’ Donuts branded K-Cups and a ready-to-drink line of iced coffees, which are distributed via a partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.

“I look forward to collaborating with Nigel, the Board, our leadership team, employees, and of course our great franchisees to further differentiate both our brands through cutting edge marketing, menu innovation, digital leadership, value, and restaurant excellence,” Hoffman said in the release. “We have a strong legacy and an even more exciting future together.”

Prior to joining Dunkin’ Brands, Hoffman spent 22 years with McDonald’s, beginning as floor staff when he was in high school and ultimately taking a position as president of high growth markets, focusing on growth in China, Russia, and other international markets.

Starbucks CFO Exits

Starbucks EVP and chief financial officer Scott Maw announced last month that he will retire from the company effective November 30. Maw had been in the role since 2014.

“I am proud to have been part of such a special company and to have experienced Starbucks remarkable growth and expansion during my seven years here,” Maw said in a press release. “I have the utmost confidence in Starbucks leadership team and Kevin’s ability to drive continued growth and success in the future.”

The company is launching an external search for a new CFO and Maw will remain with the company as a consultant through March 2019.

As Peet’s and Dunkin’ Brands experience their own leadership transitions, Starbucks similarly saw a passing of the torch last year when Kevin Johnson rose to the CEO position following the departure of longtime leader Howard Schultz. Schultz formally left the company in June, stepping down from the board amidst rumours of a potential run for U.S. president.

“I am grateful for the contributions Scott has made over the past seven years that led to the unprecedented growth of Starbucks,” Johnson said in the release. “As we enter our next phase of continued growth, I am confident in the finance team Scott has developed and am appreciative of his willingness to support through the transition into new leadership.”