WASHINGTON — Vanda Pharmaceuticals CCO Aranthan “AJ” Jones II will be joining Starbucks to lead global communications.

As senior VP for global communications and public affairs, Jones will lead the coffeehouse giant’s global, international, partner and corporate communications, as well as Starbucks Stories and marketing integration & entertainment teams worldwide. His larger remit includes advancing Starbucks’ global growth and supporting the company’s products, partners, customers, and social impact initiatives.

Jones will report to Gina Woods, executive VP for public affairs and social impact. He will assume the newly created role on Oct. 26.

Jones is joining Starbucks after two-plus years as Vanda’s chief corporate affairs and communications officer. In that role, he led communications, investor relations, government affairs, corporate marketing, ESG and corporate philanthropy.

Before that, he led BCW’s global public affairs practice and the agency’s Washington office. Earlier in his career, Jones was the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s policy and communications head.