Aegis Living Hires Starbucks Veteran Kris Engskov as Its New President

by Jeff Shaw

SEATTLE — Aegis Living, a Seattle-based senior living owner, developer and operator has hired Kris Engskov as president. 

In 16 years with foodservice giant Starbucks, Engskov led a number of the company’s global businesses. His roles included president of the company’s flagship U.S. retail business, leading 170,000 employees across 8,300 stores. He was also president of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) division, where he spent five years building the Starbucks brand across more than 30 countries. Most recently, Engskov served as executive vice president of business integration. 

Having impacted all parts of the organization including brand strategy, marketing, real estate development, technology implementation, customer experiences and operations, Engskov brings a variety of expertise to Aegis. 

In addition to Starbucks, Engskov also worked for Madrona Venture Group, a Seattle-based venture capital fund. From 1993 to 2000, he served in the White House, first as assistant press secretary and later as personal aide to President Bill Clinton. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville with a bachelor’s degree in public administration. 

Engskov succeeds Judy Meleliat who is retiring after holding the role for six years. Meleliat will remain in her role as Engskov learns the seniors housing business, officially handing over the reins in spring 2019.

Hiring outside the senior living arena is standard practice for Aegis. Since its inception, the company deliberately draws senior leaders from the hospitality, high-end retail, and restaurant industries for fresh perspectives. Recent hires include leaders from Amazon, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis and Wynn Hotels, and Nordstrom. 

Aegis currently operates 31 communities in Washington, California and Nevada, with eight new properties currently under development.

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