Changes at the C-suite level of coffee and tea company JDE Peet reflect a company nimbly responding as needed.
Current CFO Scott Gray has decided to step down to be reunited with his family in the United States. Gray played a pivotal role in the company’s transition from a private to a public company in 2020 and guided the organization through unprecedented coffee inflation and macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges in recent years. In addition to leading the company’s finance and IT functions, Gray assumed the role of interim CEO prior to the appointment of Rafa Oliveira as CEO in November 2024.
A current Peet’s employee will be announced as and step into the CFO role in late February, Oliveira noted. In the meantime, the executive team will work together to ensure a smooth transition.
Also, Ricard Barri Valentines was appointed chief marketing officer (CMO) and member of the executive committee, reporting to Rafa Oliveira. Currently the global category director for instant and liquid coffee, Valentines has experience transforming brands and driving sustainable growth.
He succeeds Fiona Hughes, who has accepted the general manager role for Australia. In that role, she will steer the highly competitive Australian business toward greater success, says the company in a release.
