Starbucks: John Culver group president, China and Asia Pacific
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John Culver has been promoted to group president, China and Asia Pacific (CAP), Channel Development and Emerging Brands.
Most recently, Mr. Culver served as president of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific, with responsibility for company-operated, joint-venture and licensed operations. In this role, he successfully led Starbucks entry into India and Vietnam. From 2009-2011, he was president, Starbucks Coffee International (SCI), where he led teams responsible for the overall management, business development and operations of Starbucks in all markets outside the U.S.
From 2007 to 2009, he held the role of president, Starbucks Coffee Asia Pacific, responsible for cultivating the Starbucks Experience for all Starbucks company-operated, joint venture and licensed markets within the Asia Pacific region.
Mr. Culver joined Starbucks in August 2002 as vice president and general manager, Foodservice, responsible for leading sales, marketing and operations. His focus on building brand awareness in traditional foodservice venues included positioning the Starbucks “We Proudly Brew,†Seattle’s Best Coffee “Serving the Best†and Torrefazione Italia “Featuring Torrefazione Italia†brands.
Before joining Starbucks, he was Vice President, Sales for Nestlé USA. Prior to Nestlé, he held various management positions within Houlihan’s Restaurants. He currently serves on the Florida State University Foundation Board of Trustees and on the Advisory Council for the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. In 2011, Mr. Culver was named Florida State University Alumnus of the Year by the Society of Hosts.
Mr. Culver has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from Florida State University. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) as a member and as treasurer. He also served on the Advisory Board for the Pacific Northwest Hospitality Industry, supporting City of Hope.
Jeff Hansberry will be promoted to president of Starbucks China and Asia Pacific.
Previously, Mr. Hansberry was president of Starbucks Channel Development and Emerging Brands business unit, with responsibility for increasing distribution through Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), and growing the company’s retail presence through foodservice, licensing and franchising. He was also responsible for Seattle’s Best Coffee, Evolution Fresh and Tazo in this role.
Mr. Hansberry joined Starbucks in June 2010 as president, Global Consumer Products and Foodservice, leading consumer products business with the introduction of new brands and products to more markets around the world. This included packaged coffee, ready-to-drink coffee, ice cream, chocolate and Tazo® teas and drinks.
Prior to joining Starbucks, he served as vice president and general manager for E&J Gallo Winery where he was responsible for leading the company’s flagship popular priced brand portfolio. His background also includes 17 years at Procter & Gamble where he held leadership positions in sales, marketing and general management, both in the U.S. and abroad.
Mr. Hansberry holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a Master of Business from the University of Pittsburgh.
Cliff Burrows has been promoted to group president, Americas and U.S., Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Teavana.
Prior to Mr. Burrows’s promotion to group president, he was president of Starbucks Coffee U.S. and Americas from 2011-2013. Immediately prior to assuming responsibility for Starbucks across the Americas, he was responsible for the company’s U.S. operations from March 2008-October 2011.
Mr. Burrows joined Starbucks in 2001 as managing director of the United Kingdom. In April 2006, he was named president for Starbucks Coffee EMEA B.V. and led the region as it grew to more than 1,350 stores across 24 countries.
Prior to joining Starbucks, he was managing director for Habitat, the home furnishings company, where he was responsible for the company’s UK business and European retail and franchises. During his 19 year career with Habitat, Mr. Burrows spent seven years working for Heals, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Habitat. Mr. Burrows started his career with Littlewoods plc as a management trainee. He completed his education in the U.K.
Michelle Gass will return to the U.S. this summer after completing her current role as president, Starbucks Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Ms. Gass was appointed to the role in July 2011 after nearly 15 years with Starbucks, serving in a variety of leadership roles, including global strategy, marketing and category management.
Prior to this role, she served as president, Seattle’s Best Coffee, where she led new and innovative business and brand strategies for this multi-channel operation. Prior to that role, she served as executive vice president, Marketing and Category for Starbucks, where she was responsible for all aspects of the global marketing and product management functions for the Starbucks brand.
In this role, she and her team drove critical initiatives as part of the Starbucks Transformation Agenda, including the launch of Starbucks VIA Ready Brew, the reinvention of the Starbucks fresh food program “Real Food. Simply Delicious.,†the introduction of the My Starbucks Rewards loyalty program, the launch of Starbucks social media platforms and the branding and launch of Starbucks social responsibility platform, including partnerships with both Fairtrade and Conservation International.
During 2008, Ms. Gass served a special assignment in the Office of the CEO leading the Global Strategy function, and worked with the senior team to create the Transformation Agenda that continues to be the blueprint for Starbucks strategic efforts.
Ms. Gass joined Starbucks in 1996 as the marketing manager for Frappuccino blended beverages. Over the course of her career at Starbucks, she has driven many innovations across categories, introducing Starbucks customers to such favorites as the Pumpkin Spice Latte, Holiday beverages, Tazo tea beverages, and many other seasonal favorites.
She was also responsible for Starbucks entry into fresh lunch and breakfast, and the introduction of healthier items including Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal and the Smoothie platform. Before joining Starbucks, Ms. Gass worked with Procter & Gamble in marketing and new product development.
She holds a master in business administration from the University of Washington and a bachelor of science in chemical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Outside of Starbucks, Ms. Gass serves on the Board of Directors for Ann, Inc., a women's specialty apparel company that operates the Ann Taylor and Loft retail brands in North America.
Kris Engskov will be promoted to senior vice president and president of EMEA.
Mr. Engskov was President Bill Clinton's aide from 1997 to 2000. He started his career at the White House working for the travel office in 1993. He then worked as an assistant press secretary for about two years. In June 2000 he left the White House to work as an analyst at the Madrona Venture Group in Seattle, Washington. In 2003 Mr. Engskov joined Starbucks as a director of Public Policy. He serves as the managing director of Starbucks UK and Ireland since July 2011.
Sharon Rothstein, global chief marketing officer, and Matt Ryan, global chief strategy officer, are joining Starbucks and the company’s senior leadership team.
Ms. Rothstein, who has already begun her immersion, comes to Starbucks from Sephora and will serve as steward of the Starbucks brand experience while strengthening integration with newer emerging brands, creating the company’s brand narrative for retail and channel development, leading marketing initiatives, advertising and key business partnerships. ■