Starbucks Names Kevin Johnson As President, COO

(RTTNews) - Coffee retailer Starbucks Corp (SBUX) today announced it has appointed Kevin Johnson as president and chief operating officer. Johnson has been a Starbucks board member since 2009, and will now take a central operating role effective March 1.

Johnson will report to Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and chief executive officer, and serve as a member of Starbucks senior leadership team, as well as continue on the Starbucks board. He ceased membership on all Starbucks board committees prior to this appointment.

"As a member of our board of directors, Kevin has worked closely with me for the past six years as a sounding board and collaborator on many of the strategies we are now pursuing. Kevin's deep management experience and technology background will help further propel Starbucks efforts in partner (employee) and customer-facing innovations as we accelerate our global growth agenda," said Howard Schultz.

Starbucks Corporation names Kevin Johnson as president and chief operating officer. Johnson has been a Starbucks board member since 2009, and will now take a central operating role effective March 1. (Photo: Business Wire)

"As a member of our board of directors, Kevin has worked closely with me for the past six years as a sounding board and collaborator on many of the strategies we are now pursuing. Kevin's deep management experience and technology background will help further propel Starbucks efforts in partner (employee) and customer-facing innovations as we accelerate our global growth agenda," said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo. "I am honored that Kevin is joining Starbucks in this capacity, particularly at this important time for our company, and I am looking forward to working with him and our strongest management team in the company's 44-year history."

Johnson will report to Schultz and serve as a member of Starbucks senior leadership team, as well as continue on the Starbucks board of directors. He ceased membership on all Starbucks board committees prior to this appointment.

As president and COO, Johnson will lead the company's global operating businesses across the Americas, EMEA (EuropeMiddle East and Africa), and China/Asia Pacific, as well as Starbucks supply chain, information technology, and mobile and digital platforms.

Reporting to Johnson will be Cliff Burrows, group president, U.S., Americas and Teavana; John Culver, group president, China/Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands; as well as other senior leaders responsible for Starbucks supply chain, mobile and digital, and information technology organizations.

Earlier this month, Starbucks said its COO and 23-year partner Troy Alstead will take a sabbatical beginning March 1 to spend more time with his family. Over the next month, Alstead will work to immerse Johnson into his levels of responsibility as they work together to ensure a smooth transition.

Starbuck said Johnson will bring broad leadership capacity to the company. He served as CEO of Juniper Networks from September 2008 through December 2013. Prior to that, Johnson served as the president of the Platforms Division at Microsoft Corp and was a member of Microsoft's senior leadership team and held a number of senior executive positions over the course of his 16 years at Microsoft. Prior to joining Microsoft in 1992, he worked for International Business Machine Corp.'s systems integration and consulting business.