• September 3, 2009

Starbucks Coffee Company has appointed Annie Young-Scrivner global chief marketing officer, responsible for global marketing and product strategy for the Starbucks brand.

In addition, Michelle Gass has been chosen to fill the new position of president, Seattle's Best Coffee (SBC), which is becoming a distinct business unit, and John Culver will become president, Global Consumer Products (CPG) and Foodservice while continuing to lead the CPG and Foodservice business units.

Young-Scrivner most recently served as CMO and VP of sales for Quaker Foods and Snacks, a division of PepsiCo. Previously, she was chairman and region president of PepsiCo Foods for Greater China, with a global consumer brand portfolio that included Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade.

Gass is a 13-year Starbucks veteran who most recently served as EVP of marketing and category. She was instrumental in forging Starbucks's partnership with (Product)Red, leading the company into health and wellness, the launch of "Real Food. Simply Delicious," and the introduction of VIA ready brew, instant and microground coffee. Her new role as leader of the new business unit of SBC includes the management of more than 550 specialty coffee cafes across the U.S., the packaged coffee business in grocery channels, and foodservice business. She will also oversee the SBC expanded franchising program that was announced this past February.

Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz said the appointments will "strengthen the expertise of a proven internal leader and enhance the leadership team with diverse talent from outside Starbucks to give us the depth necessary to operate a global business." Making SBC a separate business unit will enable it to realize its full potential in the specialty coffee marketplace, he added.--Karlene Lukovitz