Starbucks Reshuffles Leadership, Appoints Two Former Taco Bell Executives
The coffee giant divides North America leadership into two roles, signaling a major shift in its operational strategy.
Starbucks unveiled a significant leadership overhaul on Tuesday, bringing in two former Taco Bell executives as part of CEO Brian Niccol's ongoing transformation of the company. The shake-up includes a major restructuring of leadership roles, including splitting the position of North American president into two separate roles.
Niccol, who previously served as CEO of Taco Bell and Chipotle, stated that the changes are a critical part of the company’s "Back to Starbucks" plan, which focuses on streamlining operations, improving accountability, and refining the company's retail model.
“As we focus on our ‘Back to Starbucks’ plan, we need a new operating model for our retail team, with clear ownership and accountability and an appropriate scope for each role,” Niccol wrote in a letter to employees posted on Starbucks' website.
Since joining Starbucks in September, Niccol has already begun reshaping the company by bringing in several executives from his former companies. For instance, he tapped Tressie Lieberman, a former colleague from Chipotle and Yum Brands, to become Starbucks’ global chief brand officer in the fall.
The latest changes see Sara Trilling, the current North American president, departing after more than two decades with the company. In her place, two new leaders will take on key roles. Meredith Sandland, currently CEO of Empower Delivery, will join Starbucks as Chief Store Development Officer in February. Sandland, who previously served as Taco Bell’s chief development officer, brings extensive experience in restaurant operations.
Mike Grams, who has spent over 30 years at Taco Bell, will also join Starbucks as North America Chief Stores Officer. Grams’ career at Taco Bell spans from restaurant general manager to global chief operating officer.
Both Sandland and Grams will play crucial roles in executing Niccol's vision for revitalizing Starbucks. This includes speeding up service times to an average of four minutes per order, redesigning stores to make them more inviting, and trimming down the company’s menu offerings.
In addition to these leadership changes, Arthur Valdez, Starbucks’ chief supply officer, will also depart. Valdez, who joined Starbucks in 2023 after seven years at Target, will be replaced by a new executive, though Niccol said the name of his successor will be announced in the coming weeks.
Starbucks is set to report its fiscal first-quarter earnings on Tuesday. Wall Street analysts predict the company’s same-store sales will fall for the fourth consecutive quarter, with U.S. and Chinese consumers increasingly turning to competitors for their coffee fix.