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Starbucks chief operating officer Rosalind Brewer is leaving the company in FebruaryStarbucks chief operating officer Rosalind Brewer is leaving the company in February

Brewer will be the next CEO at Walgreens, making her the only Black woman currently running a Fortune 500 company.

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

January 26, 2021

1 Min Read
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Brewer will be leaving Starbucks at the end of February.Starbucks

Joanna Fantozzi

Starbucks announced Tuesday the departure of its chief operating officer, Rosalind Brewer, at the end of February. Brewer will be taking up the helm as CEO of Walgreens, a role that will make her the only Black female chief executive of a Fortune 500 company. 

“Starbucks chief operating role responsibilities are being distributed to other members of the existing leadership team,"  Starbucks said in the company’s Q1 earnings released on Tuesday.

The announcement of Brewer’s departure comes on the heels of Starbucks chief financial officer and executive vice president Patrick Grismer announcing his retirement earlier this month, effective Feb. 1. Grismer will be succeeded by senior vice president of finance, Americas, Rachel Ruggeri.

"We are very excited for her and grateful for her many contributions over the years," Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said during Tuesday's earnings call. 

Starbucks’ financial results from the first quarter ended Dec. 27, 2020, saw a 5% drop in global same-store sales, driven by a significant decrease in comparable transactions.

The company opened 278 net new stores in the first quarter of the year, ending the quarter with 32,938 stores globally.

Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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