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Caribou Coffee names Gene Komsky CFO. Jun 9 2026 Gene Komsky joins Caribou from Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants where he was Vice President of Finance. Caribou Coffee, the national operator of premium coffeehouses, today announced the appointment of Gene Komsky as Chief Financial Officer. The news follows former CFO Scott Kennedy's move to Chief Executive Officer in late 2025 and the addition of new executives in marketing, IT, supply chain and real estate development to better align teams with the company's vision and strategic priorities. Gene Komsky joins Caribou from Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants where he was Vice President of Finance. Komsky brings almost two decades of strategic finance leadership and broad experience driving financial planning and analysis (FP&A), corporate finance, and operational excellence across multi-unit and growth-stage businesses in both private equity-backed organizations and public companies. In his role as Chief Financial Officer at Caribou, he'll work closely with Kennedy and Chief Commercial & Strategy Officer Matt Reiter. "We took our time considering just the right balance of experience, skillset and leadership perspective for this important role in Caribou's future," said Kennedy. "Gene is the perfect addition to the team with both years of proven success in corporate finance at the highest levels, but also in the way he thinks - like a head of operations and a key member of the strategy team. That's the kind of integrated and seamless operating model we've been building at Caribou to help us to continue growing in a smart, strategic manner while also delivering exceptional experiences for guests and creating lasting value in the choices they make." Over his career, Komsky has held senior finance positions at XPO Logistics Inc, the worldwide freight logistics organization; food packaging leader Pactiv Evergreen, Inc., and Hexacomb Corporation, a manufacturer of paper packaging products and systems. "It's a pivotal time to be joining Caribou," said Komsky. "Scott and the leadership team have built a thoughtful strategy and strong foundation for the future. There's a clear roadmap in place to continue strengthening the brand, operations and guest experience. I'm particularly energized to join a team where finance plays a critical role in helping accelerate growth and support long-term value creation for the business and our guests." Komsky is a graduate of DePaul University where he gained a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Marketing, and DePaul Driehaus College of Business, where he received his Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance and Operations Management. He is in the process of relocating from Chicago to the Twin Cities with his wife and young son.

Clash of the coffee titans on East Bay Drive. Caribou Coffee recently opened on East Bay Drive, joining a crowded field of nearby competitors that includes Starbucks, Dunkin' and fellow newcomer, Dutch Bros. By JEFF ROSENFIELD, Tampa Bay Beacons LARGO - Caribou Coffee, a Minnesota-based company founded in 1992 known for its freshly brewed, hand-crafted drinks, recently opened a new location at 4375 East Bay Drive in Clearwater, just over the Largo city line. Caribou's bright, drive-thru-only spot resides in the middle of a brewing clash of the coffee titans that includes nearby competitors Dunkin', Starbucks and fellow area newcomer, Dutch Bros., which has seen a steady stream of customers pouring daily through its Kenne Plaza drive-thrus since it opened in late 2025. This battle of the corridor's coffee shops already claimed one victim, as the Blend Coffee and Cocktails shuttered its location at 3150 East Bay Drive after opening in the former Checker's restaurant in August 2024. Despite the closure, there's still plenty of options crammed into a tight, two-mile stretch of East Bay Drive. As a nearby resident, this reporter was curious to find out how Caribou could fare in this ultra-competitive, cup-to-cup coffee combat. Calling in a ringer. As an admitted "Gimme caffeine ASAP!" Keurig user, I enlisted the assistance of my 24-year-old niece, Taylor Richardson, a self-professed coffee connoisseur who was practically weaned on a French press. Taylor, who lives near Largo Central Park and drives the route daily to work the early shift at a doggie day care facility on U.S 19, initially stated she's always been a big fan of Dunkin's. "Their coffee isn't fancy, but it always tastes good," she said of the Boston brand noted for its reliability. Dutch Bros. When the day calls for a pick-me-up that's a bit more elaborate, Taylor typically turns to Dutch Bros. "The hazelnut double latte," she quickly replied when asked for her go-to drink at Dutch. Bros., an Oregon based company that, like Caribou, was founded in 1992 and opened to much fanfare, in line with its coffee-cult-like following, in the plaza on the northwest corner of East Bay Drive and Keene Road last November. One look at the creamy, whipped concoction and it was easy to see it being a favorite of "fancy coffee" fans. While snapping a few photos in front of the colorful Dutch Bros. sign, Taylor noticed the rival Starbucks location was a mere scones throw away across the busy East Bay/Starkey Road intersection. "I like Starbucks when I need a real pick-me-up, because their coffee is so strong," she said, once again hitting the nail on the head of a common perception about the Seattle-based brewing giant's blends. Caribou. Not wanting to get too hopped up on caffeine before noon, Tbnweekly skipped trips to Starbucks and Dunkin's and traveled east past Belcher Road to check out the new Caribou location, which is easy to miss amid the flurry of side streets and strip plazas but still stands out due to its freestanding, angular blue-and-white building. Once parked, the attentive worker at the window happily asked about its familiarity with the company; when told it was limited, she proceeded to direct Tbnweekly through the small but densely packed menu that features cold and hot coffee and "not coffee" drinks, including their signature caramel high rise, and several food items. "I like it," Taylor said after sipping an iced vanilla white mocha coffee, while this "regular coffee" Joe reporter found the Caribou Blend medium roast blend highly enjoyable. (Note to self: It's available in K-cup version on the company's website.) More than coffee. While Tbnweekly both enjoyed Caribou's coffee, my niece said the food menu is a highlight that's tough to beat "Their menu is much better, I think," she said of the list that features breakfast and lunch items, including their signature Lumberjack sandwiches, as well as sweet treats and pastries that are served all day. "The food just looks tastier, and they have a lot more options than some of the other places, in my opinion." One drawback of the new Caribou spot is there's no place to sit down, inside or outside, because there aren't any public restrooms on the property, according to the employee. Another is that Caribou opens later - at 6 a.m. daily - than both Dunkin's and Dutch Bros, which open at 5 a.m., and Starbucks, which opens at 4:30 a.m. during the week and at 5 a.m. on weekends. "Sometimes I leave for work before 6, and I have to find a place that's open," Taylor said, meaning Caribou is about a half hour too late to catch the early, early morning coffee-drinking commuters. But she said she thinks there's enough variety between the four powerhouse national coffee brands that they could all coexist in the bustling East Bay Drive corridor. "I think there's something here for everyone," she said. "It just depends on what you like!" JEFF ROSENFIELD, Tampa Bay Beacons