In a letter to Starbucks partners, chief operating officer John Culver said changes will ‘help us realize the many hopes and dreams we all share for the company’

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Throughout the last two years, I am incredibly proud of how Starbucks partners have led with exemplary courage, commitment and conviction to continue delivering meaningful moments of connection to our customers around the world. Now, as we unite with a singular focus around our plans to reinvent Starbucks as a stronger and even more successful company, I continue to be encouraged by the momentum we are building and the early success we are beginning to see. I remain confident that our partners will continue to lead us through the many opportunities we have as a company and enable us to overcome any challenges we may encounter in the future.

Over the last several months, I have worked closely with Howard and members of the ELT to set in place the foundation for our Reinvention, while we plan for the next chapter of leadership at Starbucks. Today, I want to share an important announcement about how we will organize our executive leadership team to further accelerate our success, create the best immersion and support for our new ceo, once appointed, and further solidify the next generation of leaders for Starbucks.

With this, I wanted to transparently share with you that we will eliminate the chief operating officer (coo) role at the end of this fiscal year. Given the moment we find ourselves in with our Reinvention underway, this is the right decision as we chart the course and the future path for Starbucks.&nbsp; Effective Oct. 3, I will transition to an executive advisor role supporting the ceo to ensure a smooth transition and then depart the company at the end of the calendar year. After 20 years with this incredible company, I am sincerely grateful for the many opportunities I have been given to impact Starbucks growth around the world and, in doing so, have a positive impact for the many partners I have served.

As a result of this decision, we will re-organize reporting for my current leadership team. Day-to-day business operations, including customer and store functions, will now report to the ceo, and all strategy and enabling functions will now report to Frank Britt in his newly expanded role as evp, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer. Please join me in congratulating Frank as he takes on these additional responsibilities.

Starting Oct. 3, the following partners will report to Howard as our interim ceo, and will ultimately transition to our new ceo when they are fully in place:

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Effective Aug. 22, the following partners will report to Frank Britt in his expanded role:

With this announcement, I want to thank and congratulate Sara Kelly and AJ Jones II for the tremendous leadership they have demonstrated in their acting evp positions. I am very pleased to announce their permanent appointments as evp, Chief Partner Officer and evp, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer, respectively, and wish them continued success in these critical leadership roles for the company.

I also want to welcome back Liz Muller, a former Starbucks partner who was responsible for the design of our Starbucks Roasteries and our high-profile Reserve stores. Liz will serve as a consultant to our Global Growth and Concepts team working with Andy Adams to co-create our global store of the future as we reinvent the partner, customer and store experience.

Please also join me in recognizing and wishing George Dowdie our very best as he plans to leave Starbucks to focus on board and scientific advisory work. George is a nearly nine-year partner and over the last two years has provided tremendous leadership to our Global Supply Chain organization, while navigating a period of extraordinary macro-and global supply chain disruptions. Previously, he led the establishment of our world class Global Food Safety and Quality Assurance organization. George will continue in his current leadership role through this calendar year as we identify and onboard a new leader. Please join me in thanking George for the important role he has played in our company’s success.

Finally, I would like to take a moment to express my sincerest gratitude to you, partners. It has been an absolute privilege to be a Starbucks partner and, as a leader who cares deeply about the success of the company, to have the opportunity to serve each of you and our collective success.&nbsp;

Words cannot fully capture the immense love and pride I have for all of you, and for the incredible partners who I’ve had the opportunity to work directly with. I want to personally extend my thanks and appreciation to Howard and to the entire senior leadership team for the support they have provided me over the course of my 20-year Starbucks journey.

I truly believe Starbucks best days are ahead and I am confident that as this next chapter for Starbucks begins, our partners and the next generation of leaders will help us realize the many hopes and dreams we all share for the company.

In a letter to Starbucks partners, chief operating officer John Culver said changes will ‘help us realize the many hopes and dreams we all share for the company.’

Message from John Culver: Next generation of leaders steps forward as I transition from Starbucks

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Message from John Culver: Next generation of leaders steps forward as I transition from Starbucks￼

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In a letter to Starbucks partners, the chief executive officer thanks outgoing chief operating officer John Culver and looks ahead to leadership changes designed to speed the company’s reinvention

I’ve relied on John Culver’s steady hand and operational excellence through his 20-year career at Starbucks. As he sets to depart the company, I remain indebted to him for his great success in directly shaping and enhancing the brand across every business and market where we operate around the world. John has long been a champion of our partners and in building our next generation of great talent here at Starbucks. As a true servant leader, he has offered his continued advisory support to me and the leadership team through this transition, for which I am grateful.

Our Reinvention requires us to rethink our leadership structure to create every opportunity for our new ceo and, most importantly, to accelerate delivery of modernized and elevated experiences for our green apron partners and our customers.

As we speak to the external candidates in consideration for the ceo position, we’ve shared the Reinvention Plan and our aspirations for the future. The candidates are extremely excited and positive, and each is pleased to see we are investing ahead of the growth curve, and reimagining the partner, customer and store experience. Each leader in consideration sees the equity and power of the brand.

Our next ceo role will work side by side with the leaders of the day-to-day running of the business. Starting Oct. 3, the following partners will report to me as ceo for the interim, and will ultimately transition to our new ceo when that individual is fully in place:

In addition, the following functions, each critical to enabling our business and reinvention, will report to Frank Britt as of Aug. 22, in his expanded role of evp, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer:

I am confident that with this next leadership team we are on an accelerated path to both grow and reinvent the company.&nbsp;

Thank you, John, for your 20 years of service to Starbucks, and for our enduring friendship. You are world class in all you do.

Howard Schultz with group of smiling Starbucks partners

In a letter to Starbucks partners, the chief executive officer thanks outgoing chief operating officer John Culver and looks ahead to leadership changes designed to speed the company’s reinvention.

Message from Howard Schultz: Gratitude, optimism as Starbucks announces leadership changes

Message from Howard Schultz: Gratitude, optimism as Starbucks announces leadership changes￼

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John Culver promoted to group president, North America and chief operating officer; Michael Conway to group president, International and Channel Development; and Michelle Burns to executive vice president, Global Coffee, Tea and Cocoa

SEATTLE – Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced several leadership appointments to advance the company's strategic business goals and position Starbucks on a clear growth path for the future. The company announced the promotions of John Culver as group president, North America and chief operating officer, Michael Conway to group president, International and Channel Development, and Michelle Burns to executive vice president, Global Coffee, Tea and Cocoa. These changes are effective as of June 28, 2021.

“As we plan for the 2022 fiscal year and beyond, Starbucks is fortunate to have a deep, talented and diverse team of senior executives we are able to tap to help lead us forward,” said Kevin Johnson, president and chief executive officer. “These appointments support our Growth at Scale agenda to bring about predictable, sustainable growth for the long-term, as well as our commitments to being a People Positive and Planet Positive company. I want to congratulate John, Michael and Michelle on their promotions and look forward to continuing to work with them closely.”

John Culver joined Starbucks in 2002 and has been at the forefront of the growth and expansion for the company across multiple geographies and cultures, leading Starbucks International for the last 15 years. Under his leadership, Starbucks International’s presence has grown to encompass more than 15,000 retail stores and more than 800,000 points of presence through channels outside our stores.

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Michael Conway joined Starbucks in 2013 to lead Channel Development and, since that time, has gone on to lead Starbucks U.S. Licensed Stores and Canada businesses. In his expanded role as group president, International and Channel Development, he will oversee the retail business segment that includes all international markets outside of the U.S. and Canada. He’ll also lead Starbucks global Channel Development business segment including the Global Coffee Alliance with Nestlé.

Michelle Burns leads Starbucks Global Coffee, Tea and Cocoa with more than 26 years of experience at Starbucks. Her promotion to executive vice president reflects the importance of coffee as core to Starbucks business and recognizes the critical role coffee plays in the intersectionality of Starbucks Planet and People Positive goals within the coffee supply chain, on behalf of our farmers.

The company announced the promotions of John Culver, Michael Conway, and Michelle Burns to advance the company's strategic business goals.

Starbucks Announces Leadership Promotions to Drive Continued Purpose-Driven Growth

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The company announced the promotions of John Culver as group president and coo, Michael Conway to group president, International and Channel Development, and Michelle Burns to evp, Global Coffee, Tea and Cocoa.

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