Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP) announced on October 1, 2026, that its Board of Directors has appointed Russ Torres as the Chief Executive Officer of the company’s Coffee Operating Unit and the future Global Coffee Co.
Torres is set to join the company on November 3, 2026. In this role, he will lead the Coffee Operating Unit prior to the planned separation of the coffee and beverage businesses. During this integration period, Torres will oversee the combination of KDP’s coffee operations with those of JDE Peet’s. Following the separation, which is targeted for early 2027, Torres will become the CEO of the standalone Global Coffee Co. entity.
Torres will report to KDP Chief Executive Officer Tim Cofer, who will transition to lead the Beverage Co. following the split. Torres will also serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the future Global Coffee Co.
According to the filing, Torres brings over 30 years of experience in consumer goods. He most recently served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Kimberly-Clark Corporation, overseeing operations in more than 30 countries. Prior to Kimberly-Clark, he held leadership roles at Newell Brands, Bain & Company, and Mondelēz International (formerly Kraft Foods). Torres holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Dartmouth College.
Pamela Patsley, KDP Board Chairman, stated that Torres emerged from a rigorous global search as the clear choice to lead Global Coffee Co. She noted that the company will generate approximately $16 billion in annual revenue, employ more than 25,000 people, and serve consumers in over 100 markets upon separation. The portfolio will include iconic brands such as Keurig, Peet’s, L’OR, Jacobs, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.
