Starbucks Australia appoints industry veteran to its board

Starbucks Australia has appointed hospitality veteran James Sinclair to its Board of Directors, as it seeks to strengthen its governance framework.

James, Founder of Signature Hospitality Group, brings extensive experience in scaling hospitality businesses in the Australian market. Under his leadership, Signature Hospitality Group has grown to operate more than 50 locations across multiple brands, including The Sporting Globe Bar & Grill, Varsity Group, and TGI Fridays (Australia), employing more than 2000 people nationwide.

In a statement, Starbucks Australia said this further strengthens the company’s leadership team following the recent appointment of CEO Braeden Lord.

“James’ appointment comes at an exciting time of growth for Starbucks Australia, with over 40 new stores in our development pipeline and the recent record-breaking store opening in Western Australia,” says Michael Smith, Chairman of Starbucks Australia. “His proven track record in building successful hospitality brands in our highly competitive market will be integral to managing our expansion.”

James is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and has experience at leading firms, including Deloitte and Thomson Reuters. He currently serves as Treasurer of the Young Presidents’ Organisation (YPO).

The company also confirmed that it expects to announce an additional board appointment in the coming weeks.