10 Things You Didn’t Know About Kevin Johnson, Starbucks’ New CEO
His coffee order leaves no doubt — Johnson's as much of a caffeine junkie as Schultz.
When Howard Schultz announced he was stepping down from his role as Executive Chairman of Starbucks last month, speculation immediately went toward a potential 2020 presidential run. While the founder's political aspirations are still hazy, now that the dust is settling on his announcement, all eyes are moving over to Kevin Johnson, Starbucks' CEO. Here's everything you probably don't know about the man running the show.
He's not actually new.
First thing's first: Johnson officially took over as CEO of Starbucks in 2017, when founder Howard Schultz ceremoniously handed over a store key in an Annual Meeting of Shareholders. But with Schultz still onboard as Executive Chairman, he wasn't as visible as he's about to be — after Schultz announced his official leave from the company in June, Johnson became the new face of the company.
He went to school in New Mexico.
Johnson graduated from New Mexico State University, a public research university located in Las Cruces, NM. He majored in business administration, which clearly has served him well.
He lives in Bellevue, Washington.
... about 20 minutes away from the first Starbucks in Pike's Place Market.
He used to work for another major company.
Johnson worked at another Washington-based company for 16 years. He started in Sales, Marketing and Services at Microsoft before becoming a Group Vice President in 2003. Two years later, he was named President of the Platforms Division.
This isn’t his first CEO gig.
Before coming to Starbucks, Johnson served as CEO of Juniper Networks, a California-based company that develops and markets networking products.
He's been with Starbucks for almost a decade.
Johnson joined the Starbucks board in 2009, then came on as Chief Operating Officer in 2015.
He's the reason Teavana closed.
Don't hold it against him, Teavana fans. As one of his first major decisions as CEO, Johnson closed 298 Teavana stores, and sold the Tazo tea brand to Unilever for nearly $400 million.
He calls Starbucks 'a gift.'
In 2017, Johnson returned to his alma mater to deliver a graduation speech. While reflecting on the experience afterward, Johnson wrote in a LinkedIn post: "I believe that success is defined by how we enhance the human experience not just for ourselves, but for others as well.
That is why Starbucks has been a gift in my life journey. As CEO, I serve the 330,000 Starbucks partners around the world who proudly wear the green apron, a purpose that brings me joy. In turn, Starbucks partners have the privilege of serving over 90 million customers a week, and I believe that they, too, are finding purpose in their work."
His go-to coffee order has a LOT of caffeine.
Johnson told Business Insider that his standard order varies between a triple espresso macchiato and a triple espresso americano, depending on his mood. At home, he makes a Sumatra or Guatemala Antigua in a French Press.
A health scare led to his career change.
During his tenure as CEO of Juniper, Johnson learned he had skin cancer. He continued, business as usual, at first, until a trip to Europe gave him pause: "I thought to myself, ‘Why am I doing this?’” he told The New York Times. “‘Why am I prioritizing traveling to Europe to sell networking technology over my health, my life, my family, people I love?"
He then left Juniper to focus on his health. A few years later, Schultz came calling, and he's been with the coffee company ever since.
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