Smith Teamaker
Darren Marshall has had a diverse and extensive work experience spanning multiple industries and roles. Darren began their career at The Procter & Gamble Company as a Brand Manager for various beauty care brands from 1992 to 1996. Darren then joined PepsiCo as a Senior Marketing Manager at Taco Bell from 1996 to 1998.
From 1998 to 2017, Darren worked at The Coca-Cola Company in various leadership positions. Darren served as the Vice President of Marketing in Southeast Asia from 2002 to 2005, and then as the Group Vice President of Marketing in Asia Pacific from 2005 to 2009. During their tenure, they fueled $5 billion in incremental system revenue and secured a sustainable growth platform. Darren also held the role of Global Vice President of Customer & Commercial Leadership from 2009 to 2012, where they worked on revenue growth management, category management, shopper marketing, and e-commerce initiatives. Lastly, they served as the Senior Vice President of Marketing & Innovation - Venturing & Emerging Brands from 2012 to 2014, focusing on portfolio development and operational growth for private equity and venture brands within Coca-Cola.
In 2014, Darren joined Steinway & Sons as the Chief Marketing Officer, where they partnered with the CEO to restore growth to the mature business by making the brand more approachable to a broader affluent customer base. Darren also focused on digital product innovation and omni-channel retail experiences, with a geographic focus on China, Europe, and the US.
In 2018, Darren became the Chief Executive Officer and a Board Member at Smith Teamaker, a luxury tea brand. Darren had full financial accountability across all areas of the business, including product development, supply chain, manufacturing, e-commerce, sales, and marketing.
Lastly, Darren is currently an Advisory Board Member at Varos, a planning software company for digital businesses. In this role, they advise on the development of analytical tools to help e-commerce businesses grow faster using real-time competitor data.
Darren Marshall holds an MBA degree in General Management from the Ivey Business School at Western University. Prior to this, they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours) in Music and Economics from St. Francis Xavier University. Additionally, they completed various Executive Development Programs in Digital and Marketing at The Wharton School. Darren also has experience in piano, having pursued Preparatory studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music from 1974 to 1985.
Smith Teamaker
At Smith Teamaker, we enrich lives through exceptional tea experiences. We craft tea and other plant-based beverages steeped in quality and creativity. Elevated, but always accessible, our aim is to be the daily craving of consumers with uncompromising taste. We bring this vision to life through three strategic imperatives: Serve MorePeopleOur product collections are designed to elevate the taste standard of core beverage occasions – hot or cold, home or away – continually building our reputation for quality, creativity, and great taste. With a deep focus on consumer needs, we balance daily favorites with unrivaled innovation to reach new consumers and build frequent consumption habits. Our growth comes primarily from direct hospitality and digital experiences where guests develop deep loyalty as they immerse themselves in our brand. We leverage premium Restaurants, Offices, and Retailers to extend our access to new consumers and households, both domestically and in select international markets.Enhance ProductivityWe source the highest quality ingredients from sustainable farms, leveraging deep relationships and our growing scale to capture superior quality with limited working capital. Our vertically integrated blending, packing and logistics operations allow us to ensure quality and differentiation while delivering cost efficiency and agility. We know that exceptional experiences come from exceptional people, so we actively build the capabilities of our teamakers, all of whom share a commitment to our head, heart, and hustle culture. Protect our PlanetOur ability to enrich lives is directly linked to the sustainability of our planet. We are committed to making a positive impact in our world by providing safe, plant-based products; eliminating waste; and actively supporting the protection of clean water, sustainable farms, and the communities that nurture them.Together, these efforts enable us to create enterprise value well ahead of the category and ensure the sustainability of the business we have created.