Chobani, the New York-based dairy powerhouse, has announced the appointment of Jai Kibe as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Kibe, who brings extensive marketing leadership experience, will oversee all marketing initiatives for both Chobani and La Colombe Coffee Roasters, the specialty coffee brand Chobani acquired in December 2023 for $900 million.
In his new role, Kibe will manage marketing strategies, partnerships, and digital consumer engagement for both brands. His focus will be on enhancing customer interactions and building data-driven marketing capabilities. Reporting directly to Chobani’s Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Burns, Kibe is also tasked with expanding the company’s analytics and consumer insights operations.
Burns expressed his enthusiasm for Kibe’s appointment, stating, “Jai is known for inspiring creativity, energizing brands, and bringing a disciplined, metrics-based approach to strategy. His leadership will be key to driving our next phase of growth as we aim to expand awareness beyond our core consumer segments. I’m excited to partner with Jai to forge deeper, more meaningful connections with consumers and unlock the full potential of Chobani and La Colombe.”
Kibe’s appointment comes following the departure of former CMO Thomas Ranese, who left Chobani in April 2024 to assume a new role at global investment firm KKR.
Chobani’s acquisition of La Colombe Coffee Roasters in December 2023 allows the specialty coffee brand to leverage Chobani’s expansive distribution network, which spans over 95,000 retail locations across the United States, including major supermarket chains such as Walmart, Whole Foods, Target, and Kroger. Despite the acquisition, La Colombe continues to operate as an independent entity.
Under Chobani’s leadership, La Colombe launched a new range of ready-to-drink coffee products in April 2024, marking the first product debut since the acquisition. The new 11oz Draft Latte cans are expected to expand La Colombe’s presence in the retail coffee market.
Before joining Chobani, Kibe held senior marketing positions at global management consulting firm Gartner, where he served as Executive Partner and CMO Advisory. His career also includes roles as Marketing and Brand Director at The Coca-Cola Company and SC Johnson, a leading household cleaning brand.
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