• About
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • MICE
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Newsletter
SUBSCRIBE
  • Latest News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
No Results
View All Results
  • Latest News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
No Results
View All Results
Home

Howard Schultz steps down from Starbucks Board of Directors

by Hayley Ralph
September 15, 2023
in News
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Howard Schultz
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Starbucks has announced Howard Schultz, the company’s founder and chairman emeritus, will step down from the Board of Directors as part of a planned transition.

“As I reflect on my 41 years with the company, a foundation of love and creative, passionate customer experience has been built by over five million partners around the world who have worked in the company,” says Schultz. “My gratitude to them and the millions of stakeholders and customers that have helped Starbucks endure is beyond measure. I am enormously blessed to have experienced this journey from the ground floor at the company these many years. I look forward to supporting this next generation of leaders to steward Starbucks into the future as a customer, supporter and advocate in my role as chairman emeritus.”

Schultz will now turn his attention with his wife Sheri to focus on a range of philanthropic and entrepreneurial investments to create greater opportunity, accessible to all.

Schultz previously stepped down as Starbucks CEO in March 2023.

“Howard’s vision, courage and deep love and responsibility for partners and this company created a blueprint for us all in how to lead through the lens of humanity,” said Mellody Hobson, independent Starbucks Board of Directors chair. “He put partners and shareholders above himself when he returned to Starbucks as CEO in 2022, working tirelessly.

“On behalf of the board, I offer my deepest thanks and appreciation to him as he steps down. Going forward, we will forever be inspired by his passion, heart, spirit, and commitment to the power of human connection, and we remain grateful for his support of our leaders and confidence in the company.”

Starbucks also announced the election of Wei Zhang to the company’s Board of Directors, effective 1 October. Zhang spent more than a decade leading Alibaba Group’s international business and media strategy, most recently as senior advisor to Alibaba Group and president of Alibaba Pictures Group.

“I want to extend a warm welcome to Wei, who brings essential experience in global operations, consumer technology, entertainment and corporate business development to the Starbucks board,” says Laxman Narasimhan, Starbucks CEO.

“I also offer my respect to Howard as he steps down from the board. As we go forward, Starbucks will continue our journey of investment in our people, our business and the communities we serve to deliver outsized returns to all our stakeholders.”

Related Posts

Iran coffee

Will the escalating conflict in the Middle East impact the coffee industry?

by Kathryn Lewis
June 24, 2025

Conflict in the Middle East involving Iran, Israel, and the United States (US) continues to escalate, with the US President...

Image: SANA

New initiative prioritises mental health care for women coffee farmers

by Daniel Woods
June 24, 2025

Non-profit organisation SANA has launched a new social-impact initiative to provide an integrative psychosocial program focused on mental health care...

Image: Westrock Coffee.

Report shows coffee key driver for convenience store customers

by Daniel Woods
June 24, 2025

Beverages are the leading driver of foot traffic in convenience stores (c-stores) according to the latest The Blend report by...

Join our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.
Prime Creative Media launched Global Coffee Report in April 2011 with the aim of promoting, growing and informing the global coffee industry through the provision of the most relevant and current information and in-depth analysis from the sector’s most influential voices.

Subscribe to our newsletter

View our privacy policy, collection notice and terms and conditions to understand how we use your personal information.

About Global Coffee Report

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Magazine
  • Contact
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Collection Notice
  • Privacy Policy

Popular Topics

  • Latest News
  • Profiles
  • Products
  • Market Reports
  • Technology
  • Equipment
  • Marketing

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited

No Results
View All Results
NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE
  • News
  • Features
  • Business Leaders
  • Profiles
  • Equipment
  • Research & Development
  • Technology
  • Events
    • International Coffee Events
    • World Coffee Events
  • Market Reports
  • Sustainability
  • About Us
  • Advertise with Global Coffee Report
  • Latest Magazine
  • Contact Global Coffee Report

© 2025 All Rights Reserved. All content published on this site is the property of Prime Creative Media. Unauthorised reproduction is prohibited