Keurig Dr Pepper has appointed two new independent directors and unveiled governance changes as it moves closer to completing its acquisition of JDE Peet’s and prepares to separate into two standalone businesses.

The beverage group says Amie Thuener, vice president, corporate controller and chief accounting officer at Alphabet, and William 'Bill' Newlands, the outgoing president and chief executive of Constellation Brands, will join its board effective March 2.

The appointments come as Keurig Dr Pepper approaches the expected early second-quarter close of the JDE Peet’s transaction and advances plans to separate into two publicly listed entities – a North America-focused 'Beverage Co' and a 'Global Coffee Co' housing the combined coffee assets.

In parallel, KDP said it will split its existing Remuneration & Nominating Committee into separate Nominating & Governance and Compensation Committees, a move aimed at tightening oversight during what Chief Executive Tim Cofer described as a pivotal phase of transformation.

The governance reshuffle also coincides with a leadership change at Constellation Brands. The Corona and Modelo owner said it has appointed Nicholas Fink as president and chief executive officer, effective 13 April 2026, as Newlands prepares to step down and retire from its board.

Thuener brings three decades of accounting and financial reporting experience, including oversight of global reporting and M&A finance at Alphabet, and will sit on KDP’s Audit & Finance Committee.

Her appointment comes as KDP prepares for the financial complexity of integrating JDE Peet’s and executing a subsequent spin-off.

Newlands, who has led Constellation Brands for more than seven years and previously served as its chief growth officer and chief operating officer, will join KDP’s Nominating & Governance Committee.

His track record in premium beverage alcohol and large-scale brand building is likely to be viewed as strategically relevant as KDP seeks to sharpen the positioning of its future Beverage Co while scaling its global coffee platform.

KDP, which generates more than $15 billion in annual revenue across the soft drinks, coffee, water, juice and mixers categories, has warned that risks remain around completing the JDE Peet’s acquisition and subsequent separation within the anticipated timeframe, as well as potential operational disruption and transaction costs.