Starbucks promotes John Culver to COO and group president, North AmericaStarbucks promotes John Culver to COO and group president, North America

Joanna Fantozzi

Starbucks announced multiple new leadership appointments Tuesday, including the promotion of former group president, International, channel development and global coffee, tea and cocoa, John Culver to chief operating officer and group president, North America. Culver will be replacing former COO Rosalind Brewer, who left the company in February to become the CEO of Walgreens.

Additionally, Michael Conway has been promoted from executive vice president and president, International Licensed Markets to group president, international and channel development. Michelle Burns has also been promoted from senior vice president of global coffee and tea to executive vice president, global coffee, tea and cocoa.

These personnel changes are effective June 28.

“As we plan for the 2022 fiscal year and beyond, Starbucks is fortunate to have a deep, talented and diverse team of senior executives we are able to tap to help lead us forward,” Kevin Johnson, president and CEO of Starbucks said in a statement. “These appointments support our Growth at Scale agenda to bring about predictable, sustainable growth for the long-term, as well as our commitments to being a people positive and planet positive company. I want to congratulate John, Michael and Michelle on their promotions and look forward to continuing to work with them closely.”

Culver has been with Starbucks since 2002 and worked in a number of positions, starting with vice president and general manager of foodservice and including group president of international and channel development. He has led Starbucks’ international growth for the past 15 years.

Conway joined Starbucks in 2013 as a leader in channel development and has also led the Starbucks U.S. stores and Canada businesses. His new role will be an expanded one and will allow him to lead the retail business segment, including all international markets outside of the U.S. and Canada.

Burns has more than 26 years of experience at Starbucks, and held multiple positions including senior vice president of branded solutions, channel development, and her promotion, according to Johnson, “Recognizes the critical role coffee plays” in their intersectionality of the company’s people, planet and agricultural goals.

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