Starbucks has moved quickly to fill vacancy set to be left by the departure of chief operating officer Troy Alstead, with the appointment of Kevin Johnson as his replacement.
Johnson is the former chief executive of Juniper Networks and former president of Microsoft’s Platforms Division.
He is also a five-plus year Starbucks Board member will be joining the brand’s senior leadership team as president and chief operating officer effective 1 March after a handover period with Alstead.
Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive, welcomed Johnson’s appointment but refuted suggestions that Johnson’s addition was part of a succession arrangement.
He said: “Now as I said at our Investor Day and I want to underscore here, my passion and personal commitment to Starbucks has never been greater. I also want to make it clear that because it’s not that Kevin’s addition is not part of some unannounced succession arrangement because it’s not. Instead, Kevin’s public company experience and his deep management, technology, global operating company supply chain, mobile and digital expertise will be a fantastic addition to already the strongest and most talented management team in our history.”
“Kevin has worked closely with the Starbucks senior leadership team and me as a Board member since 2009 collaborating and providing deep insights and wise counsel in connection with our transformation in 2009. And many of the strategies we’ve outlined at our Investor Conference last month and we will be executing against over the next several years. Kevin and I have been discussing his coming to the company in order to contribute his insights and expertise and help us as we grow our business in North America and around the world for some time.”
The company announced at the start of this month that Alstead was taking “an extended unpaid leave” after 23 years with the company.
Alstead currently leads the operations and development of Starbucks international business and its Europe, Middle East and Africa business.
