Sanchez succeeds John Lown, Takeya USA founder and CEO, who will continue to serve as executive chairman of the board and advise the company.
Takeya USA develops and markets products under the Takeya and ThermoFlask brands, including insulated stainless steel beverage bottles, coffee mugs, food jars, tumblers, travelers and the patented Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker and Cold Brew Coffee Makers.
Sanchez brings more than 25 years of leadership, innovation and brand-building experience in the lifestyle-driven consumer products business, according to Takeya USA. Most recently, he served as vice president of global product strategy at Oakley (the Sports Hub division of Essilor-Luxottica). Prior to Oakley, he spent a decade in leadership roles in eyewear and outdoor brands for such companies as Costa Sunglasses, Bushnell Outdoor Products, Maui Jim sunglasses and Zeal Optics.
As CEO, Sanchez oversees all aspects of Takeya’s Costa Mesa, CA-based U.S. business, including the company’s engineering development office in Osaka, Japan, and its distribution operations center in Ohio. He will also guide the long-term vision of building the company into a global food storage and drinkware brand anchored in sustainability, culture and design, according to the company.
Lown said, “John (Sanchez) comes to us with a deep understanding of consumer behavior, product innovation, and global brand building — making him uniquely qualified to lead Takeya as we enter our next chapter. He is a proven leader with the infectious vision and executional excellence we need. John will lead us to accelerate our mission of transforming how people sustainably transport food and beverages while keeping them fresh, cold, hot, at home or on the go.”
Sanchez’s appointment highlights the company’s mission to build its brands by driving product innovation, brand transformation, digital-social following, and enhancing its independent wholesale partnerships by establishing a purpose-driven ethos across partners that share the same values, the company reported.
“I admire Takeya’s long-standing, 65-year history and am honored to carry forward its commitment to enhancing everyday sustainable beverage experiences,” Sanchez said. “Takeya has built a formidable reputation for innovation and quality —values that resonate with today’s consumers. My immediate focus will be to build a high-performance team who are as excited as I am to usher this amazing brand into its next chapter. The future global Takeya team will be driven by those who are passionate about consumer needs, purposeful design and inspirational brand building to redefine the possibilities of the reusable food and beverage container market.”