Starbucks hires Chipotle’s Niccol as sixth chief executive By Reuters

(Reuters) – Starbucks (NASDAQ: ) on Tuesday named Brian Niccol of Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: ) as its new CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan, who had been at the helm for nearly a year and a half, the shorter period for a top boss of the global coffee chain.

Niccol will become just the sixth CEO of the company in its more than 50-year history, with founder Howard Schultz leading the company for 23 years in three separate stints and helping to create a giant in the fast-food industry.

Here’s a timeline of the company’s CEOs over the years:

CEO tenure

Howard 1987 to 2000 Schultz took over the company

Schultz published in 1992.

Orin 2000 to 2005 Orin was employed as CFO in

Smith in 1990 and was named CEO in

2000. Under his leadership,

Starbucks went from 45

stores at over 10,000

locations in 33 countries.

Stock up over 130%

during his tenure.

Jim March 2005 at Donald was president of

Donald January 2008 North American company

division for three years

before being named CEO. He

was removed in 2008. The

stock down nearly 29%

during his time.

Howard January 2008 Schultz returned as CEO for

Schultz until April 2017 for a second term

to support the US

business.

Kevin April 2017 to Johnson who was on

Johnson April 2022 Starbucks board since 2009

and was named COO in

March 2015, led the coffee

chain for five years. He

led the company through

pandemic before retirement

in 2022. During his tenure,

the stock gained 56%.

Howard April 2022 at Schultz returned to lead

Schultz Company April 2023 for the third time,

taking over as interim CEO

and focusing on coping

growing unionization in the US

cafes.

Laxman April 2023 at Starbucks hired Narasimhan

Narasimh August 2024 from the manufacturer Lysol

a disinfectants to undertake a

“reinvention”. Stock down

more than 26% during his time

time at the helm.

Brian September 2024 Chipotle Mexican Grill’s

Niccol boss Niccol has been named the new CEO in

a change of management,

task of a known director

to revive the burrito

chain to drive a turn.