Kevin Johnson new Starbucks president and CEO

STARBUCKS Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) has a new president and chief operating officer. Kevin Johnson, who has been a Starbucks board member since 2009, will assume a central operating role effective March 1. 

Mr. Johnson will lead the company’s global operating businesses across the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and China/Asia Pacific from the Starbucks Support Center. He will be responsible for the Starbucks supply chain, information technology, and mobile and digital platforms. He will report to Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz and serve as a member of Starbucks senior leadership team. He will also continue to be part of the Starbucks board of directors. 

Mr. Johnson, who ceased membership on all Starbucks board committees prior to this appointment, will supervise Cliff Burrows, group president, U.S., Americas and Teavana; and John Culver, group president, China/Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands. Other senior leaders responsible for the Starbucks supply chain, mobile and digital, and information technology organizations will also report to Mr. Johnson. 

Meanwhile, chief operating officer and 23-year partner Troy Alstead will take a sabbatical beginning March 1 to spend more time with his family. Mr. Alstead will work with Mr. Johnson as the latter transition into his new role.

Mr. Johnson, who resides in Seattle, served as chief executive officer of Juniper Networks Inc. from September 2008 through December 2013. Over the course of his 16 years at Microsoft, he served as president of the Platforms Division and was a member of Microsoft’s senior leadership team and had a number of senior executive positions. In 1992, he worked for International Business Machine Corp.’s systems integration and consulting business. Before that, he was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC), which he served from 2008 through the end of 2013.