Godiva has appointed Annie Young-Scrivner as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 14 September 2017.
Young-Scrivner joins Godiva from Starbucks where she served as Global CMO Starbucks Coffee Company and President Tazo Tea. She also served as President of Teavana Teas.
During her Starbucks tenure, Young-Scrivner refreshed the brand for innovation and multi-channel growth and drove Starbucks to lead in social media, digital media and loyalty.
Young-Scrivner spent 20 years in senior leadership and general management roles at PepsiCo. As President and Chairman of PepsiCo Food in China, her team delivered double-digit growth.
Since 2014, Young-Scrivner has served on the board of multi-billion department store Macy’s. She is also a member of the Dean’s Board of Advisors for the Foster School of Business, University of Washington and will be Chairman of its Advisory Board for its 2018 session. Young-Scrivner will be based in Godiva’s New York office and will travel extensively across its global footprint.
In her role, Young-Scrivner will lead the continued development of markets including Japan, China and North America as well as Godiva’s global travel retail business.
Godiva Chairman Murat Ulker said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Annie Young-Scrivner as CEO of Godiva. She is a highly experienced and talented executive who will play a major role in digitising the company, globalising our e-business and improving customer experience in our retail boutiques.”
Annie Young-Scrivner said: “I am absolutely thrilled to become Godiva’s new CEO. It’s a privilege to carry on the entrepreneurial heritage and the passion in creating the ultimate chocolate experience. Godiva has a wonderful presence across the globe. I’m excited to work with the talented team to invite even more customers into our delicious world.”
Mohamed Elsarky, CEO and President Godiva Inc, is stepping down after seven years to focus on new projects. Elsarky will continue to be part of the Group, working closely with the chairman and as a member of the Yildiz Holding Leadership Team.
Ulker commented: “I would like to take this opportunity to personally thank Mohamed Elsarky for his strong contribution and commitment to Godiva since 2010. During his tenure, we have built a truly global brand with a world-class pool of talent, creating a solid foundation for continued growth. Mohamed will continue to be an integral part of the leadership team within Yildiz Holding and I look forward to working with him and continuing to benefit from his considerable experience and deep industry knowledge.”
In other news, Godiva has appointed Suzanne Cockerham to the role of Marketing Director, Global Travel Retail and Continental Europe Retail. She replaces Leen Baeten who will lead Godiva’s marketing team in the Americas domestic market.
Reporting to General Manager Global Travel Retail Matthew Hodges, Cockerham is charged with driving the global travel retail and European domestic retail marketing strategy for Godiva from new product development through to in-store activation.
Cockerham has worked in the luxury sector for over 15 years, starting her career at Parfums Christian Dior, followed by a stint at premium fragrance distributor Kenneth Green Associates (KGA) working on the Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances. In 2005 she moved to Paris to join Beauté Prestige International working across the European markets on their top three fragrance brands. After three years she returned to KGA as Marketing Manager in their Niche Fragrance division.
Before joining Godiva as Senior Marketing Manager EMEA in 2015, Cockerham worked at The Estée Lauder Companies.
Cockerham commented: “I am very excited to join the world of travel retail which has always been a career goal. I’m looking forward to planning and implementing successful launches which will drive our growth within the travel retail arena and at the same time drive our continental Europe retail, e-com and wholesale channels. This new role enables my team and me to appeal to the Godiva consumer on their total path to purchase, be it domestic, e-com or travel retail.”
Hodges added: “We are delighted to have secured the services of such an experienced and highly-motivated individual. Suzanne really understands the purchase motivations of consumers in today’s luxury market and has a full range of marketing techniques in her armoury. We are confident that she will continue the excellent work of her predecessor Leen and will help us drive the development of Godiva in travel retail worldwide.”
