The Starbucks Corporation
According to the company's announcement, Narasimhan will join the company in October with the title "incoming CEO." Outgoing CEO Howard Schultz will stick around until April to help Narasimhan ease into his new role and learn about Starbucks.
"Laxman is an inspiring leader. His deep, hands-on experience driving strategic transformations at global consumer-facing businesses makes him the ideal choice to accelerate Starbucks growth and capture the opportunities ahead of us," said Independent Starbucks Chairperson Mellody Hobson. "His understanding of our culture and values, coupled with his expertise as a brand builder, innovation champion, and operational leader will be true differentiators as we position Starbucks for the next 50 years, generating value for all our stakeholders. On behalf of the entire Board, I am thrilled to welcome Laxman as Starbucks next CEO."
Narasimhan began his career at consulting firm McKinsey, working at the firm's offices in New Delhi until 2012. Narasimhan became the Chief Commercial Officer of PepsiCo
"I look forward to working closely with Howard, the Board, and the entire leadership team - and to listening and learning from Starbucks partners - as we collectively build on this work to lead the company into its next chapter of growth and impact," Narasimhan said.
Schultz to Leave CEO Position "For Good", Leaving a Mixed Legacy
Schultz announced this week that he would be leaving the CEO position "for good."
Since taking the position in April after the departure of Kevin Johnson, Schultz has presided over a period of upheaval at Starbucks. The unionization pushes by a growing number of the company's baristas prompted a harsh pushback from the coffee titan, including firings and store closures, which in turn has greatly diminished Starbucks' image as a "progressive" employer.
For all the effort that the company has put in to stop workers from organizing, Starbucks has gained little, and lost quite a bit. The mammoth coffee chain has found itself locked in a losing battle with the National Labor Relations Board, with many of its actions against workers being met with regulatory backlash and courtroom losses.
Schultz's role in the company's union-busting leaves a dark shadow over his founding role at the eponymous coffee chain, and his efforts to garner the socially progressive image Starbucks still tries to champion even as it fights its own workforce.
