Dunkin' Donuts has announced that president and chief brand officer William Kussell has decided to leave the company at the end of the year. With Kussell's departure, Dunkin' Brands CEO Nigel Travis also will assume the role of Dunkin' Donuts president.
"In the 15 years since Will joined Dunkin' Donuts, the company has grown from a regional donut chain with about 3,000 stores into the No. 1 coffee and baked goods brand worldwide with more than 8,800 stores in 31 countries," Travis said in a news release. "Among many achievements, Will has played a pivotal role in leading the transformation of Dunkin' Donuts and the repositioning of the brand through its acclaimed advertising campaign, 'America Runs on Dunkin.' We would like to thank Will for his many valuable contributions during his tenure with Dunkin' Donuts, and we wish him well in his pursuit of broader executive responsibilities."
Since joining Dunkin' Donuts in 1994 as senior vice president of marketing and purchasing, Kussell has held many senior level positions. He was promoted to president in 1996 and subsequently served as the retail concept officer and chief operating officer for Dunkin' Brands, where he was responsible for the marketing, operations, franchising, development, supply chain and strategic planning for Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's worldwide. He was appointed president and chief brand officer of Dunkin' Donuts worldwide in January 2008.
"I am pleased I could stay here to assist Nigel during his first year as Dunkin' Brands CEO, but it is now time for me to pursue my goal of leading a business," said Kussell. "This has not been an easy decision for me to make given my passion for the Dunkin' Donuts brand, but it is the right decision for me as I look to the next stage of my career. I am very proud of all we were able to achieve together with our franchisees during my time here. I am confident I am leaving Dunkin' Donuts well positioned for the future."
In 2008, Dunkin' Donuts global system-wide sales were up 5 percent, and the company opened more than 1,300 new stores worldwide.
