DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) appointed PepsiCo. Inc. (PEP) veteran Annie Young-Scrivner as its global chief marketing officer, while Starbucks veteran Michelle Gass will serve in the newly created role of president at its Seattle's Best Coffee business.

The Seattle-based coffee retailer has been trying to stem a slide in sales growth in recent years and, more recently, declines in customer traffic and sales receipts amid the recession.

Starbucks also has been looking at ways to boost sales and cut costs since Howard Schultz returned to the company as chief executive in January 2008. Since then, he has been closing stores, renegotiating rents, reducing the number of bakery suppliers and working to make stores run more efficiently.

He noted Thursday that moving Seattle's Best Coffee into a separate business unit will provide focus for the brand. "These appointments will strengthen the expertise of a proven internal leader and enhance the leadership team with diverse talent from outside Starbucks to give us the depth necessary to operate a global business," he added

Young-Scrivner served as chief marketing officer at Quaker Foods, a division of Pepsi. "Annie brings a wealth of knowledge in international business and a proven track record in global marketing and product strategy, including health and wellness," said Schultz.

Gass, a 13-year Starbucks veteran, spent the past 14 months heading Starbucks' marketing efforts after a management shakeup. At the time, she has been Schultz's right-hand person since he returned as CEO and was behind the success of Starbucks' Frappuccino line.

Shares recently were down 1% at $18.37. The stock is up 94% this year after 2008's slump.

-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481; tess.stynes@dowjones.com