May 23, 2013

Industry News | March 19, 2013

Starbucks Recruits Sharon Rothstein as Global CMO

Starbucks Coffee Company announced it has appointed Sharon Rothstein as global chief marketing officer.

Rothstein was previously senior vice president of marketing at innovative specialty beauty retailer Sephora.

“Throughout our 42-year history, Starbucks has strived to innovate and exceed the expectations of our customers around the world,” says Starbucks chairman, president, and CEO Howard Schultz. “Sharon’s forward-thinking brand sensibility and global cross-channel marketing expertise will continue to push us toward our aspiration of building one of the world’s most relevant, trusted, and enduring brands.”

Rothstein will report to Schultz and serve on Starbucks senior leadership team. She will steward the Starbucks brand, as well as the company’s portfolio of emerging brands, including Seattle’s Best Coffee, Evolution Fresh, La Boulange, Tazo, and Teavana.

“There has never been a more exciting or important time in Starbucks journey to bring my passion for elevating the customer experience to this iconic global brand,” Rothstein says. “I have been a loyal Starbucks customer and fan for most of my adult life, and I am humbled to become a partner at one of the few companies in the world that embraces the value and responsibility of balancing business performance and social impact.”

As the senior vice president of marketing at Sephora since 2009, Rothstein authored the company’s new global brand positioning, elevated the brand’s image, and executed multichannel integrated marketing campaigns.

She also played a key role in transforming Sephora’s digital experience with immersive content across all digital channels.

Prior to Sephora, Rothstein held senior marketing and brand management positions with Godiva, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, and Procter & Gamble.

Rothstein earned her MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her bachelor of commerce from the University of British Columbia.

She will start on April 15 and will be based at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle.