Kevin Johnson (businessman)
Kevin R. Johnson (born October 9, 1960) is an American businessman and software engineer who was the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Starbucks Coffee Company from 2017 to 2022.
Johnson first worked as a systems engineer at IBM during the late-1980s, before moving to Microsoft in 1992 and was appointed to lead its worldwide sales, marketing and services in 2003.
Working closely with Microsoft CEO Steve Balmer and founder Bill Gates, Johnson was a member of the senior leadership team.
Under his tenure, Starbucks has streamlined its core business, managed corporate programs to address racial inequality in the U.S., and revamped its product suite horizontally, particularly in espresso machine manufacturing and technological innovation.
Born on October 9, 1960, in Gig Harbor, Washington,[1] Johnson later moved to and was raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico, with his siblings.
[10] On September 30, 2005, he was appointed co-president of Microsoft's newly created Platforms division, assuming sole responsibility after co-president Jim Allchin retired in 2006, giving Johnson responsibility over Windows Live, Windows operating systems, online advertising, search functions,[14] servers, tools, and MSN online.
[10] Overseeing the release of Windows Vista in 2006 and 2007, in 2007 Johnson led Microsoft's acquisition of the online advertising company aQuantive for $6 billion.
[25] In December 2016 it was announced that Howard Schultz would step down as CEO of Starbucks, and in April 2017 that he had personally recruited Johnson to be his successor.
[24] In May 2018, two Black men, who were waiting for a business associate to arrive, were arrested for trespassing in a Philadelphia Starbucks, resulting in public protests and accusations of racial profiling.
[33][34][35] Describing the incident as "reprehensible"[35] and apologizing personally on Good Morning America, Johnson met with the victims[36] and the Philadelphia police commissioner to arrange a settlement.
[37] Under Johnson, in 2018 and 2019, the company began developing biodegradable lids, straws, and cups,[38] and partnered with UberEATS and Alibaba to deliver in the United States and China.
[39] The Financial Times reported, in 2018, that "colleagues credit [Johnson's] tech background with helping Starbucks outpace other retailers in mobile ordering and payments.
[35] In January 2019, it was reported that Johnson was scaling down several of Schultz's initiatives from two years prior, including testing of Starbucks Reserve Roastery cafes.
According to The Wall Street Journal, that "discipline" had also resulted in slowed store growth in the United States, and that Johnson was "working to improve customer service, pushing the company to develop more innovative beverages and expanding its reach in China.
[42] Johnson’s first major initiative was the 2017 two-year North Star project that aimed to refocus Starbucks’ approach to customer service.
[45][46] However, employees reported that Starbucks was forcing baristas to take responsibility for customer-service problems caused by other issues like understaffed stores, an increasing demand from mobile and drive-thru orders, and time-intensive drinks.
[8][13] A sports fan, Johnson cites writings by basketball coach John Wooden as a personal influence.
