Starbucks has appointed Simon Redfern as its new director of UK corporate affairs.

The move comes five months after it was revealed that the BB75 coffee shop retailer had paid just £8.6m in corporation tax during the 13 years it has been in the UK.

Redfern, who is due to take up the position next month, has previously acted as a consultant for the firm. He joins the company after the departure of Tim McCoy, former head of communications at Starbucks UK, who joined energy supplier EDF last September.

He will take charge of building and sustaining relationships with key UK stakeholders, as well as supporting the company’s reputation and marketing initiatives. This includes the Starbucks Youth Action program, which helps to fund community projects set up by young people from the UK.

Speaking to business publication PR Week, Redfern said: “I’m looking forward to getting more ‘in front of the camera’ in an in-house role and working with the Starbucks team and helping the business tell its great story on coffee, skills and apprenticeships.”

Redfern’s current position is partner at communications consultancy firm Pagefield.