Blue Nile VP Leigh Gower joins C-suite at Dutch Bros Coffee

Dutch Bros Coffee has named its first chief technology officer.

The fast-growing drive-thru coffee chain appointed Leigh Gower as chief technology officer, effective Dec. 1, 2021. Her appointment comes several months after Dutch Bros’ initial public offering came in well above expectations. The company currently has more than 500 locations in 12 states.

Prior to joining Dutch Bros, Gower served as VP, technology at the digitally native fine-jewelry retailer, Blue Nile. Prior to Blue Nile, she was senior director, product & technology at T-Mobile. Gower also served as a management consultant at Slalom Consulting.

“Leigh has dedicated her career to customer-focused, transformative work,” said Joth Ricci, president and CEO of Dutch Bros. “She recognizes the need to seamlessly integrate technology into everything we do to create a flawless, personal experience. We're excited about the expertise she brings to this role and look forward to her guidance in connecting with our customers in new ways."

"My passion has always been enabling businesses with effective technology to power compelling customer experiences," said Gower. "Dutch Bros is a disruptive brand-defining its own path, and passionate about speed, quality and service as core values. I look forward to working with an incredible team and approaching new ways of reaching our customers with a culture of curiosity and collaboration."