Keurig Dr Pepper Taps Kimberly-Clark's Russ Torres to Lead Coffee Spinoff

Keurig Dr Pepper named Russ Torres, currently president and chief operating officer of Kimberly-Clark, as CEO of its planned coffee spinoff, Global Coffee Co., the company said on October 1, 2026. Torres joins KDP on Nov. 3 to lead the coffee unit ahead of a separation targeted for early 2027, reporting to CEO Tim Cofer, who will head the beverage company after the split. Torres, with roughly 30 years of consumer goods experience, previously held senior roles at Newell Brands, Bain & Company and Mondelēz. He is the third executive named to the role after Sudhanshu Priyadarshi declined the position and Rafael Oliveira departed for Heineken. His exit leaves Kimberly-Clark managing its pending $40 billion Kenvue acquisition without him; Jeff Melucci takes over integration and CFO Nelson Urdaneta will track synergies. KDP has sold its Chobani stake for $800 million and a Pennsylvania facility for about $125 million to cut debt. Global Coffee Co. is projected to generate roughly $16 billion in annual revenue and employ over 25,000 people.