The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® Announces Andrew Nathan As New Senior Vice President Of Asia Pacific

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is pleased to announce the addition of Andrew Nathan as Senior Vice President of Asia Pacific and member of the executive team. In this newly created role, Nathan will be the primary driver of the company's growth opportunities in Asia, including responsibility for company operations in Singapore and Malaysia. Nathan assumes responsibilities previously held by Victor Sassoon, CEO of Asia Pacific, who continues as a Board member of the company. Nathan will be based in Singapore and report to John Dawson, President and CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. To ensure a smooth transition, Nathan will work closely with Victor Sassoon and John Dawson.

Nathan brings nearly 20 years of experience in the specialty coffee business, and specializes in leading and growing brands in Asia. He began his international career working with the US Peace Corps and the American Red Cross, and has held regional franchise and corporate market leadership positions for such global brands as Starbucks Coffee and Domino's Pizza. Nathan holds a B.A. from the Jackson School of International Studies of the University of Washington at Seattle. 

Founded in Southern California in 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has become one of the world's largest independent and privately owned coffee and tea retailers. In 1996, Victor Sassoon and the Sassoon family became the first franchisee with stores in Singapore and Malaysia. Two years later, they acquired the entire company from the founder and built it into a global brand and business. During his tenure as owner and CEO of Asia Pacific, Victor Sassoon successfully opened over 100 stores in Singapore and Malaysia and oversaw franchise expansion to 550 stores in over 25 countries spanning Asia and the Middle East. The Coffee Bean Singapore received the 2012 Business Enterprise Award and 2013 Most Influential Brand among Gen Y in the cafe category.

In September 2013, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® announced that Advent International, CDIB Capital and Mirae Asset Private Equity had joined to acquire a significant equity position in the company. The three experienced global investors, along with the Sassoon family, who remain substantial shareholders, are working to accelerate the brand's growth and international expansion.

"We've worked very hard over nearly 20 years to grow and nurture this great brand," said Victor Sassoon. "It's been highly rewarding and I value the relationships I've developed with our franchisees, developers and team members during my tenure as CEO of Asia Pacific. I look forward to my continued involvement as a board member and have full confidence in Andrew as he takes on the leadership role in Asia Pacific."

"We are excited about the addition of Andrew to our Executive team," said John Dawson, President and CEO of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. "Andrew brings a wealth of international and specialty coffee experience that will drive our next phase of growth in our existing and new markets across Asia."  

ABOUT THE COFFEE BEAN & TEA LEAF®
Born and brewed in Southern California since 1963, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® is the oldest and largest privately-held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the United States. Embodying a passion for connecting loyal customers to one another with carefully handcrafted products, the company is known for sourcing only the top 1% of the beans and teas in the world to use in our coffee and beverage products. For more than 50 years, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® has demonstrated a passion for product innovation epitomized by The Original Ice Blended® drink. The company has grown to be an international icon and currently has more than 960 stores in nearly 30 countries, including operations in grocery and club stores, office coffee service, foodservice and e-commerce. Please visit CoffeeBean.com for more information. 

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SOURCE The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf