Starbucks, a leading company in the coffee industry and a multinational coffee chain, recently announced the replacement of Howard Schultz, who served as interim CEO.
On October 1, 2022, Narasimhan will start working at Starbucks as CEO. Before officially taking on the CEO position, he will collaborate closely with Howard Schultz, the interim CEO.
As per Starbucks’ blog post, Narasimhan has nearly 30 years of experience leading and advising global consumer-facing brands. He is known for his expertise in operations and has a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands.
Laxman Narasimhan said, “Starbucks commitment to uplift humanity through connection and compassion has long distinguished the company, building an unrivalled, globally admired brand that has transformed the way we connect over coffee. I am humbled to be joining this iconic company at such a pivotal time, as the Reinvention and investments in the partner and customer experiences position us to meet the changing demands we face today and set us up for an even stronger future.”
“I look forward to working closely with Howard, the Board, and the entire leadership team – and to listening and learning from Starbucks partners – as we collectively build on this work to lead the company into its next chapter of growth and impact.”
Laxman Narasimhan was born in 1967 in Pune, India, from where he completed his undergraduate degree. The would-be Starbucks CEO studied at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Technological University, from where he graduated with flying colors.
Following his graduation, Narasimhan moved to Pennsylvania and completed his Master’s degree in German and International Studies from the Lauder Institute under the University of Pennsylvania. The business executive also has an MBA degree from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Laxman Narasimhan joined the renowned management consulting firm McKinsey & Company after completing his studies at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. There, he quickly rose through the ranks and eventually became a senior partner in the business. Narasimhan joined the multinational soft drink company PepsiCo after his time at McKinsey & Company. Before becoming the company’s Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), Laxman handled operations for PepsiCo across Europe, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa.
