The US doughnut and coffee chain has named new senior leadership for its Chief Operating Officer, Chief Growth Officer, President of International and Chief Product Officer roles
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A Krispy Kreme store in Concord, North Carolina | Photo credit: Krispy Kreme
US doughnut and coffee chain Krispy Kreme has announced a raft of internal leadership changes, including a new Chief Operating Officer and President of International.
In a press release, North Carolina-based Krispy Kreme said the appointments would enable it to ‘align talent to maximise profitable expansion in the US and the wider adoption of its capital-light international franchise model’.
Long-serving executive Nicola Steele has been appointed incoming Chief Operating Officer – a role vacant since Josh Charlesworth’s promotion to CEO in September 2023 – where she will be responsible for global operations, modernising doughnut production and maximising Krispy Kreme’s hub-and-spoke distribution model.
Currently CEO of Krispy Kreme Australia & New Zealand, Steele will assume her new role on 3 March 2025.
Effective 6 January 2025, former Chief Brand Officer Dave Skena now serves as Chief Growth Officer with responsibility for global store operations, retail partnerships, marketing and digital sales channels. Raphael Duvivier, previously Chief Development Officer, is now Krispy Kreme’s President of International, with a focus on market development in Europe and Latin America. He succeeds Matthew Spanjers, who left the doughnut and coffee chain in November 2024.
Additionally, Alison Holder has been named Chief Product Officer. Holder joined Krispy Kreme in February 2000 and has held several key senior roles across brand development, product innovation and consumer insights.
“These leaders all have extensive company experience, commitment to operational excellence and passion for our iconic fresh doughnuts and beloved brand. As we grow, these leadership changes will result in both a bigger and better Krispy Kreme,” Charlesworth said.
The leadership reshuffle comes as Krispy Kreme seeks to reverse lower third quarter earnings, including a 12% decline in US revenues. The doughnut and coffee chain cited consumer softness and the sale of its Insomnia Cookies business in July 2024 as contributing to the decline, but highlighted an expanded doughnut distribution deal with fast-food giant McDonald’s that is forecast to lift fourth quarter sales. Krispy Kreme is expected to announce its full-year 2024 results in February 2025.
Founded in 1937, Krispy Kreme operates 2,000 stores and a further 13,700 global points of access – retail channels where its products can be purchased – across 40 markets globally. The JAB Holding-backed business has signed agreements to launch in Brazil, Germany and Spain in 2025.