Irvine-based Diedrich Coffee Inc. has announced that its CEO, J. Michael Jenkins, is stepping down from his day-to-day role with the company in order to continue to pursue a course of medical treatment prescribed by his physicians.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
In August 2001, the company announced that Jenkins had been diagnosed with gastric cancer. He will continue to serve in an advisory capacity with the company.
Jenkins said: “I will need to devote a substantial amount of my time and energy to continuing the current course of treatment for my condition. The board of directors and I felt that the appropriate response would be for me to relinquish my day-to-day duties as CEO but remain engaged with the company in an advisory role.”
Paul C. Heeschen, Diedrich Coffee’s chairman, added: “The board of directors has a great deal of respect and admiration for Mike and his accomplishments since he joined the company in September 2000.
“Over the past 18 months, he had the responsibility for steering the company through a very difficult period. Diedrich Coffee today is stronger, more profitable and has broader growth opportunities due to Mike’s leadership. During his tenure, he assembled an experienced and mature management team that will continue to execute the strategy he worked with the board to design.”
US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?
Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.
By GlobalDataAs an interim measure and to assist senior management during the transition, the board has asked Philip G. Hirsch to assume the role of CEO until a successor is appointed. Hirsch is a seasoned business executive. Most recently, he served as president and COO of CUE Digital Radio Corp, the world’s largest radio data network.
The board will establish a search committee and is beginning the process of evaluating potential candidates to succeed Jenkins as the permanent CEO.
