Starbucks appoints new managing director for UK & Ireland

20th July 2011, 11:39am

Starbucks Coffee Company has appointed a new senior vice president and managing director for the UK & Ireland.

Kris Engskov will replace Darcy Willson-Rymer, who is stepping down as managing director to pursue another opportunity outside of Starbucks.

Engskov has nine of years of experience at Starbucks and worked within the UK operations from 2005. Prior to his current role as regional vice president of the company's US Pacific Northwest region, he also served in senior management positions in both the US and Europe including managing director of Starbucks Coffee Switzerland and Austria.

John Culver, president, Starbucks Coffee International, commented on the appointment: "The UK & Ireland present significant opportunities for Starbucks.

"Kris brings a great deal of operational and public affairs experience to the role, and is an ideal candidate to continue the momentum Starbucks has achieved in this region. The addition of Kris to the team is a further sign of our commitment to international markets as a key growth engine for the company."

Darcy Willson-Rymer has been with Starbucks since 2007. Culver added: "Darcy's passion, commitment and leadership have been a driving force in the UK & Ireland. We are grateful for his contributions to Starbucks and wish him well in his future endeavours."

The change will be effective from Mid September 2011.

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Click here to submit a comment!

Shane Carter

22 October 2011 at 2:55pm

The appointment of a new Chief Executive at Starbucks UK has not resulted in any improvement to its customer service operation which might afford some explanation for the Company's change of fortunes and declining sales. Recently, I attended a recruitment open day at a branch of Starbucks in Kensington. I was asked five set questions and then asked my age which was not one of the set questions; 51. A friend of mine in his mid-forties attended the same event; neither of us received the courtesy of any communication to let us know the outcome of the interview. I cannot recall ever being served coffee in a central London branch of Starbucks by a worker over the age of 45.

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