Starbucks has announced a leadership reshuffle, promoting North America chief coffeehouse officer Mike Grams to the role of chief operating officer (COO).
The move is part of a strategic effort to bring teams closer and enhance leadership accountability, according to a statement from company chairman and CEO Brian Niccol.
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Grams will oversee both global coffeehouse development and the global supply chain, with executive vice-presidents Meredith Sandland and Sanjay Shah reporting directly to him.
The reshuffle will bring together the global coffee and sustainability team with the global brand team to reinforce coffee’s centrality to the Starbucks brand and integrate sustainability into the company’s offerings.
Michelle Burns, executive vice-president of global coffee and sustainability, will now report to executive vice-president and global chief brand officer Tressie Lieberman.
In a significant shift, Deb Hall Lefevre, executive vice-president and chief technology officer, will report to Cathy Smith, executive vice-president and chief financial officer.
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By GlobalDataThe collaboration between Lefevre and Smith is expected to accelerate technological advancements within the company.
The executive leadership team will continue to include Deb, Meredith, Michelle and Sanjay, alongside other key executives.
Brad Lerman, executive vice-president and chief legal officer, will be departing Starbucks in the coming months, prompting a search for a new chief legal officer.
In April 2025, Starbucks reported a 2% increase in consolidated net revenues for the second quarter (Q2) of the fiscal year 2025, reaching $8.8bn. This represents a 3% rise on a constant currency basis.
