USA – Costa Coffee, American coffeehouse chain and subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Jill McDonald as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer, effective 2nd December.

McDonald, an experienced business leader who has worked in senior roles across several industries, including retailing and airlines, will take over form Dominic Paul – who is stepping down from the role on November 30.

Paul has led Costa through a strong growth phase, along with this year’s sale of Costa to The Coca-Cola Company, the complex separation from Whitbread and the development of Costa’s new growth strategy.

Jennifer Mann, president of Global Ventures for The Coca-Cola Company said: “Dominic led a significant reshaping of Costa’s international footprint, the expansion of the brand across multiple new platforms and a wide-ranging reset of the core UK business strategy.”

In her new role, McDonald will report to Mann. She brings with her a diverse experience from senior roles across various industries.

She held three roles with McDonald’s Corp. from 2006 to 2015, ultimately serving as UK CEO and division president, North Europe and most recently the managing director of clothing and home for Marks & Spencer.

Most recently, McDonald was managing director of clothing and home for Marks & Spencer.

McDonald also served as CEO of Halfords Group, a UK retailer of bikes, car parts, leisure products and a chain of garages, where she joined the company in 2015 till her departure in 2017.

McDonald started her career as a graduate trainee at Colgate-Palmolive in 1987. From 1990 to 2006, she worked for British Airways, ascending through a series of positions of greater responsibility, eventually serving as global head of marketing.

She currently serves on the board of InterContinental Hotels Group. McDonald is a native of the UK and a graduate of the University of Brighton.

“I am excited to welcome Jill to the Costa family. Her track record, depth of international experience and excitement about joining our business makes her an ideal leader to build on the great work of Dominic and the rest of the Costa team,” Mann said.

McDonald commented: “I have long been a fan of Costa and have watched the company grow in the UK and far beyond.

“I look forward to joining the Costa leadership team and building on the great foundation and growth potential in the business.”

Paul will remain with Costa as a special advisor through February 2020, supporting the transition.