News

Starbucks promotes within chain to allow CEO to focus on innovation

January 30, 2014

Starbucks Coffee Company has announced a new leadership structure that will allow CEO Howard Schultz to focus on "innovation and next generation retailing and payments initiatives," according to a company press release.

"These organizational moves map our internal talent to the rapidly evolving retail environment and significant strategic and market opportunities ahead of us," Schultz said. "Each of these experienced Starbucks leaders will be working closely with the entire senior leadership team, and me, to bring even greater financial and operational discipline to our business around the world. They will partner with me as I focus on Starbucks mission, growth initiatives and the convergence and integration of our retail and e-commerce, digital, card and mobile assets around the world. There has never been a more exciting time to be a Starbucks partner."

The following senior leadership changes are effective on Feb. 3.

Schultz to focus on innovation

In partnership with Starbucks senior leadership team, including chief digital officer Adam Brotman and chief strategy officer Matt Ryan, Schultz will expand his focus on innovation in coffee, tea and the Starbucks Experience as well as next generation retailing and payments initiatives in the areas of digital, mobile, card, loyalty and e-commerce, according to the release. He will also continue to work closely with his senior leadership team.

Troy Alstead as chief operating officer

Building on his 22 years of experience as a Starbucks partner, Troy Alstead will be promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the enterprise. Alstead previously served as Starbucks chief financial officer and group president, Global Business Services. In his new capacity, Alstead will continue to report to Schultz and will be responsible for aligning and prioritizing company investments across business units, according to the release.

Group presidents Cliff Burrows (U.S., Americas and Teavana), John Culver (China Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands) and EMEA president Kris Engskov will now report directly to Alstead (Burrows and Culver previously reported to Schultz; Engskov previously reported to Burrows). Also reporting to Alstead in his new role is the company's new chief financial officer, Scott Maw, as well as his existing senior direct reports who lead the company's Global Technology and Global Supply Chain Organizations.

Alstead joined Starbucks in 1992, when the company was privately held and operated just over 100 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Today Starbucks operates more than 20,000 stores in 63 countries.

Scott Maw as executive vice president and CFO

Starbucks senior vice president of Corporate Finance, Scott Maw, will be promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer. Maw will report to Alstead and have oversight for Starbucks global finance function. He joined Starbucks as global controller in 2011, and brings more than two decades of finance leadership experience to his new role, according to the release. Prior to Starbucks, Maw served as CFO of SeaBright Insurance and as CFO of the Consumer Banking division at JPMorgan Chase. He has also held various finance leadership positions at GE and the Retail Banking division of Washington Mutual.

Craig Russell as vice president, Global Coffee

Craig Russell, Starbucks voice and advocate for coffee, will be promoted to executive vice president, Global Coffee. He previously served as senior vice president for the same function which he was appointed to in 2012, according to the release. Russell will continue to report to Schultz and continue to lead all aspects of the company's coffee strategy, quality, innovation, purchasing, education and engagement. His team also oversees Starbucks Farmer Support Centers and works closely with the company's supply chain operations and global responsibility teams to advance the company's ethical sourcing efforts. Russell joined Starbucks in 2001, as vice president of retail operations for Seattle's Best Coffee.

Read more about operations management.