President & CEO Eric Lauterbach Exits Peet’s Coffee, Replaced by Consumer Brands Veteran Stuart Heflin
November 20 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
Peet’s Coffee has announced that veteran consumer products executive Stuart Heflin has taken the helm as President, succeeding Eric Lauterbach, who has stepped down after more than fifteen years with the company.
The change was made official on Tuesday, November 17th. Lauterbach announced his departure in a reflective LinkedIn post, marking the end of a notable tenure that saw him guide the company through major structural shifts. He first joined Peet’s over fifteen years ago as a young Vice President of Sales, a role he admitted he was less prepared for than he thought. His journey with the company culminated in his appointment as President and CEO four years ago.
Stuart Heflin
During his time in leadership, Lauterbach was instrumental in navigating Peet's through its transition from a public company to a private entity following its acquisition by JAB Holding Company, and later, back into the public sphere with the formation of JDE Peet’s. Reflecting on his tenure, Lauterbach expressed gratitude for the dedicated "Peetniks" and colleagues he worked with, stating, “It has been a huge privilege to have been part of this great company and brand.” He confirmed that now is the right time for him to move on, create space for new leadership, and focus on his next chapter.
Stepping into the role is Stuart Heflin, a consumer products veteran with more than twenty years of experience leading global brands. Heflin joins Peet’s from The Simply Good Foods Company, where he served as Senior Vice President & General Manager for Quest Nutrition. His extensive background also includes key brand management roles at Glanbia Performance Nutrition and Procter & Gamble, and he played a leadership role in innovation following Quest Nutrition's acquisition in 2019.
In his new position as President of Peet’s Coffee, Inc., Heflin, who joined the company in 2025, is now responsible for all of Peet’s domestic and global businesses. This portfolio includes the esteemed Stumptown Coffee and Intelligentsia Coffee brands, as well as Peet’s operations in China.
This leadership succession occurs during a period of considerable change for the company. Peet’s recently outlined a new strategic direction for its U.S. business, and its parent company, JDE Peet’s, is poised to be acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper in an monumental deal valued at approximately $18 billion.