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Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson retiring, Howard Schultz to serve in interim role

Mar 16, 2022, 6:19 AM

Starbucks, Johnson...

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson speaks during the company's annual shareholders meeting at WAMU Theater, on March 20, 2019, in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

(Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)

Starbucks Corporation announced Wednesday that Kevin Johnson, the company’s president and chief executive officer, intends to retire this year.

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Johnson has been with Starbucks for 13 years, including the last five years as CEO. He will transition from his current role on April 4, 2022, according to Starbucks, and will continue to serve as a Starbucks employee and special consultant to the company and Board of Directors through September 2022.

The board of directors says it anticipates selecting a new leader by the fall. Until that successor is named, founder Howard Schultz will serve as interim CEO.

Johnson has served on the board of directors since 2009, joining the leadership team in 2015 as president and chief operating officer. In 2017, he was named president and CEO, succeeding founder Schultz.

“A year ago, I signaled to the Board that as the global pandemic neared an end, I would be considering retirement from Starbucks. I feel this is a natural bookend to my 13 years with the company,” Johnson said in a written statement. “As I make this transition, we are very fortunate to have a founder who is able to step in on an interim basis, giving the Board time to further explore potential candidates and make the right long-term succession decision for the company.”

“I have enjoyed every minute of the job and am proud of what we have achieved together. It has been an honor to serve the 400,000 Starbucks green apron partners around the world and I want to thank them for their service, resilience and optimism.”

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Schultz is volunteering his time as interim CEO and will receive $1 of compensation.

Johnson and Schultz will provide an update to shareholders Wednesday at the annual meeting of shareholders via a webcast at 10 a.m.

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