Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Starbucks named Laxman Narasimhan its next CEO on September 1, 2022. The appointment put an executive with recent consumer-goods leadership at the helm of a coffee company often associated with technology leadership—but “outside tech” is a relative description: Narasimhan’s McKinsey work included technology as well as consumer and retail sectors. This is a historical account, not a current leadership announcement.
Who did Starbucks name as its next CEO?
Starbucks selected Laxman Narasimhan, then the chief executive of consumer-goods company Reckitt. Before Reckitt, he had held senior positions at PepsiCo and McKinsey. GeekWire reported that his McKinsey work spanned consumer, retail, and technology practices in the United States, Asia, and India.
That background differed from predecessor Kevin Johnson’s: GeekWire described Johnson as a former Microsoft and Juniper Networks executive. The contrast helps explain the “outside tech industry” framing, but it does not mean Narasimhan lacked technology-sector exposure.
How was the leadership transition scheduled?
In its September 1, 2022 announcement, Starbucks said Narasimhan would join the company in October 2022 and take over as CEO on April 1, 2023. Howard Schultz was to continue as interim CEO until the handoff and advise Narasimhan through the end of calendar 2023.
#1 Best Overall
Narasimhan said he was “humbled to be joining this iconic company at such a pivotal time,” citing the company’s reinvention and investments in partner and customer experiences. Schultz’s stated leadership preference, as reported by GeekWire in its contemporaneous account, was for “a true servant leader that had a deep sense of humility.”
Why was the appointment framed as a move beyond tech?
The framing referred chiefly to a change from Johnson’s prominent technology-company roles to Narasimhan’s recent experience leading Reckitt and earlier work at PepsiCo. Those positions gave him direct exposure to consumer brands and operating businesses; his consulting career also covered retail and technology. The available accounts establish the contrast in career backgrounds, not that Starbucks chose him for one specific reason or that one background was superior.
What was Starbucks’ scale at the time?
GeekWire’s September 2022 report described Starbucks as having about 35,000 stores and 383,000 employees globally. These are approximate figures reported at the time, not current company totals.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who leads Starbucks now?
Starbucks named Brian Niccol chairman and CEO in August 2024, with a September 9 start date, according to the company’s announcement. The company’s January 2026 Investor Day release continued to identify Niccol as chairman and CEO and described its “Back to Starbucks” transformation, highlighting service, menu innovation, and marketing as priorities. That later strategy statement provides current company context; it does not establish what impact Narasimhan had as CEO.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
