“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 said in a statement.
The company said the change was part of a planned transition, but Schultz, 70, didn’t provide a reason for his exit. Then-Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz speaks at the annual shareholders meeting in Seattle in 2017.ended in March , as Laxman Narasimhan stepped into the role. Schultz spent 11 months back in the top job. During that time, he crafted a strategy to modernize the company’s cafes, improve relations with its baristas and fuel further sales growth. He also spearheaded the launch of StarbucksBut some of Schultz’s actions created new enemies. He took a more aggressive approach against baristas unionizing than Kevin Johnson, who took over as CEO after Schultz’s second stint.