Who was the CEO of Starbucks from 2017 to 2022?

Kevin Johnson was Starbucks’ CEO from 2017 to 2022. He became president and chief executive officer on April 3, 2017, succeeding Howard Schultz, and led the company until his retirement took effect on April 4, 2022.

Johnson had already spent years at Starbucks before becoming CEO. He joined the company’s board in 2009 and became president and chief operating officer in 2015. Before Starbucks, he was a technology executive who had held senior roles at Microsoft and Juniper Networks, giving him experience in digital services and large-scale operations.

During Johnson’s tenure, Starbucks focused on digital ordering, loyalty, store technology, and global growth, while also dealing with major workplace and operational challenges. After Johnson stepped down, Howard Schultz returned as interim CEO in 2022. Laxman Narasimhan later became CEO in 2023, which is why those names may appear in questions about Starbucks leadership in adjacent years.