News

Former Sam's Club CEO takes on COO title at Starbucks

September 6, 2017

Starbucks has appointed Rosalind Brewer as group president and chief operating officer, effective Oct. 2. Brewer, former president and CEO of Sam's Club and current Starbucks board member, has more than 30 years of management experience and more than 10 years of experience leading multi-national retailers, according to a company press release.

"Starbucks is a culture-first company focused on performance and Roz is a world-class operator and executive who embodies the values of Starbucks," Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said in the release. "She has been a trusted strategic counselor to me ever since she joined our board of directors, and I deeply value her insight, business acumen, and leadership expertise."

Brewer, who will report to Johnson, will continue to serve on the Starbucks board of directors. As group president and chief operating officer, she will lead the company's operating businesses across the Americas and the global functions of supply chain, product innovation and store development organizations.

"Roz is the right leader to help us realize our greatest of ambitions in this next chapter of our journey," Johnson said. 

Brewer brings with her extensive insight on large-scale operations and supply chain logistics based on her past senior leadership positions, which includes five years with Sam's Club and six years in executive roles for Walmart and 22 years at Kimberly-Clark. In addition to her experience in consumer products and distribution, Brewer will provide vast expertise in product development, product management, innovation, and international operations and distribution, according to the release.

"As a passionate customer of the brand and recently-elected board member, I have a deep love and admiration for the Starbucks brand and its people,"  said Brewer, who earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from Spelman College and attended an advanced management program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. "I am so honored to have the pleasure of working with the Starbucks leadership team to realize our highest of aspirations for the company and I look forward to working closely with the astute and talented leaders across the enterprise.

She has repeatedly been recognized as one of the world's most powerful women, ranking No. 19 by Fortune (2016) and No. 57 by Forbes (2016). She also sits on the board of directors for Lockheed Martin Corporation and chairs the Board of Trustees at Spelman.