Rafael Oliveira to Helm Keurig’s Coffee Division as Landmark $18B Merger Reshapes Industry
April 2 - 2026
Coffee Geography Magazine
Keurig Dr Pepper has named Rafael Oliveira as chief executive officer of its coffee operating unit. The appointment comes as the company advances its $18 billion all-cash acquisition of Dutch coffee and tea giant JDE Peet’s, a deal first announced in August of last year.
Oliveira, who currently serves as CEO of JDE Peet’s, is slated to take the helm of the future global coffee company once the transaction reaches its next phase. The acquisition is designed to bolster Keurig’s competitive position against industry leader Nestlé while helping the combined entity navigate persistently high commodity costs.
Under the terms of the deal, the merged operations are expected to be separated into two independent, publicly traded U.S. companies: one focused exclusively on coffee operations and another dedicated to beverage businesses. Following the planned separation, Oliveira will lead the coffee-focused entity. In his new role, he will report to Tim Cofer, Keurig’s current chief, who is positioned to become CEO of the future beverage company after the split.
The leadership structure marks a shift from earlier plans. When the deal was initially announced, Keurig’s then-chief financial officer, Sudhanshu Priyadarshi, was originally designated to head the coffee unit. However, Priyadarshi was replaced in November by Mattel’s CFO, Anthony DiSilvestro, signaling a recalibration of the executive team as the integration progresses.
The companies have confirmed that the separation is expected to be completed by the end of the year. In a related move, JDE Peet’s shares are scheduled to be delisted from Euronext Amsterdam on April 30, 2026, marking the formal conclusion of its tenure as a standalone public entity.
With Oliveira now in place to steer the coffee operations, Keurig Dr Pepper is positioning itself to create a streamlined global coffee powerhouse capable of challenging market leaders while delivering long-term value to shareholders.