SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 4, 2013--
Starbucks Coffee Company (NASDAQ:SBUX) today announced that it has
appointed Matthew Ryan as global chief strategy officer. Ryan was
previously senior vice president of global brand, franchise and customer
relationship management for The Walt Disney Company.
Matthew Ryan (Photo: Business Wire)
“The Starbucks Experience is built on our partners’ (employees) passion
for creating meaningful moments of connection more than 70 million times
every week and our company’s devotion to continuously innovating new
choices and experiences that surprise and delight our customers at every
interaction,” said Starbucks chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz.
“Matt’s innovative approach to customer analytics, market segmentation
and brand optimization will bring a new level of insight and imagination
to Starbucks and our significant brand ambitions.”
Ryan will report to Schultz and serve on Starbucks senior leadership
team. He will lead Starbucks long-term strategic planning process;
improve the monetization of Starbucks retail, channel and emerging
brands; and strengthen the company’s fast-growing customer relationship
management and loyalty capabilities. Starbucks global customer insights
and strategy teams will report to Ryan.
Starbucks new chief strategy officer will also serve on the company’s
Global Brand Leadership Team responsible for integrating the company’s
regional brand and marketing initiatives. Ryan will partner with
Starbucks recently appointed global chief marketing officer, Sharon
Rothstein, to bring enhanced customer insights and analytics to the
company’s brand expression and customer experience.
“To be a great and enduring brand, you must know your customers and they
must know you; and Starbucks, like Disney, is one of the few companies
in the world that has truly authentic connections with their customers
that stand the test of time,” said Ryan. “Starbucks is building one of
the most admired, important and exciting brands of the 21st
Century and I couldn’t be more humbled and energized about the
opportunity to help navigate and accelerate the game-changing journey
they have already begun.”
As senior vice president, brand, franchise and customer relationship
management since 2000, Ryan has led the stewardship and development of
Disney’s global brand equity across the company. In this role he
provided consumer input into the company’s long-term strategic planning,
oversaw the development and cultivation of character franchises, and led
development of cross-divisional customer relationship management
programs, including the Disney Rewards Visa card. Prior to joining
Disney in 1998, Ryan held senior strategic planning roles with several
national and international advertising agencies.
Ryan graduated from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in
history and literature. He will start in May and will be based in
Seattle at the Starbucks Support Center.
About Starbucks Corporation
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to ethically
sourcing and roasting the highest-quality arabica coffee in the
world. Today, with stores around the globe, the company is the premier
roaster and retailer of specialty coffee in the world. Through our
unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring
the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer
through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our
stores or online at www.starbucks.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20130404005382/en/
Source: Starbucks Coffee Company
Media:
Jim Olson, +1-206-318-7100
press@starbucks.com
or
Investor
Relations:
JoAnn DeGrande/Greg Smith, +1-206-318-7118
investorrelations@starbucks.com