GLOBAL – Coffeehouse and roastery chain Starbucks has appointed former Mars sustainability executive Marika McCauley Sine as its new Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO).
The appointment takes effect immediately.
McCauley Sine is taking over from Michael Kobori, who will retire by the end of the year. In her role, Sine will lead the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy, including climate and social initiatives.
Earlier this year, Starbucks updated its sustainability goals to reduce climate, water, and waste impacts by 50% by 2030, compared to a 2019 baseline.
Sine will report to Michelle Burns, Starbucks’ Executive Vice President of Global Coffee and Sustainability, who has been with the company since 1995 and in management since 2013.
Sine expressed confidence over her appointment by saying, “It will be an honor to lead sustainability for such an impactful business and beloved brand, in collaboration with talented partners and community members around the world”.
Sine brings extensive experience from her previous role at Mars Inc., where she served as Global Vice President of Sustainability for over five years and concurrently as Chief Sustainability Officer for Mars’ pet care division for four years.
At Mars, she led the sustainability and governance strategy for the pet care business, focusing on climate action, circular packaging, and sustainable raw material sourcing.
Prior to this role, the incoming CSO joined Mars as a human rights director, managing its “Thriving People” pillar, which targeted gender and income equity and created opportunities for women throughout the supply chain.
Before her stint at Mars, Sine spent over a decade at The Coca-Cola Company in various sustainability roles, overseeing global partnerships on nutrition access, human rights, and economic development.
The incoming CSO’s appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the coffeehouse chain, which reported increased environmental impacts and emissions earlier this year.
According to its latest ESG report, Starbucks’ carbon emissions rose by 8% in fiscal year 2023 compared to a 2019 baseline, while waste sent to landfills increased by 13%. Sine’s leadership will be essential as the company strives to meet its ambitious 2030 sustainability targets.
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