Starbucks new CEO hires fellow Chipotle exec. to lead branding

Starbucks’ (NASDAQ:SBUX) newly appointed CEO Brian Niccol has added Tressie Lieberman, an executive at Niccol’s former employer Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG), as the coffee chain’s chief brand officer.

Lieberman, who most recently served Yahoo Inc. as its chief marketing officer, will take over her new role on Nov. 4, the company said in an emailed statement on Friday.

“It’s time to tell our story again and reintroduce Starbucks to the world. Tressie is the perfect person to help us do that,” Niccol said.

Lieberman has worked under Niccol, serving as Chipotle’s (NYSE:CMG) vice president of digital marketing and off-premise sales from 2018 to 2023. The former CEO of Chipotle (CMG) joined Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) in August, initiating a number of leadership changes.

After less than six months in the role, Starbucks (SBUX) North America CEO Michael Conway retired in September, days after Niccol’s appointment. The Seattle-based company reportedly decided not to replace him, with its North America President Sarah Trilling assuming his responsibilities and reporting directly to Niccol instead.