Starbucks promotes two senior officials to digital teamStarbucks promotes two senior officials to digital team

Lisa Jennings

Starbucks Coffee Co. is beefing up its digital and information technology leadership team with the promotion of two senior officers, the company said Friday.

Adam Brotman, previously senior vice president of Starbucks Digital Ventures, will take on the expanded role of chief digital officer, reporting to chief executive Howard Schultz.

Curt Garner, who most recently was Starbucks’ senior vice president of business technology, has been named chief information officer.

Schultz said the past few years have brought a seismic shift in consumer behavior as use of social and digital media grows.

“At Starbucks, we have recognized this shift and have made it a priority to establish a position on the leading edge of innovation, and are now taking this step further,” he said. “Adam, Curt and their respective teams will continue to lead the way as we accelerate our digital and technology investments.”

As chief digital officer, Brotman, who joined Starbucks in 2009, will be responsible for the coffeehouse chain’s core digital businesses, including web, mobile, social media, card, loyalty, e-commerce, Wi-Fi and the Starbucks Digital Network. He will also lead the company’s in-store digital and entertainment teams, the company said.

Garner will oversee Starbucks’ global technology and engineering services, including retail technology, business intelligence, software engineering, technology services, information security, finance systems and global infrastructure, as well as infrastructure systems across all channels and geographies.

The promotions follow the exit of Stephen Gillett, who resigned as chief information officer and executive vice president of Starbucks Digital Ventures to join Best Buy Co. as head of digital and global business services.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
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