Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz has officially stepped down from the company’s board of directors.
Schultz served as the CEO of Starbucks from 1986 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2018. During his tenure, he was credited with transforming the coffee industry and turning Starbucks into a multi-billion dollar global empire.
In a statement issued on Monday, Schultz said, “It has been an incredible privilege to connect to so many colleagues, customers, investors, and partners over the years in pursuit of Starbucks mission and the creation of economic opportunity in all the communities we serve”.
Schultz first rose to fame after he bought Starbucks out of the hands of its original owners in 1987. He then began to exponentially expand the business, opening stores in every corner of the world.
At the same time, Schultz also developed a strong sense of social responsibility within the company. He was an advocate for progressive policies, such as offering health insurance to part-time employees and adopting free college education plans.
In recent years, Schultz had been slowly shifting away from the Starbucks board and venturing into other areas of business. He founded a venture capital firm supporting craft brewers and announced plans to launch a luxury coffee brand in early 2019.
It wasn’t until earlier this year that Schultz made the official decision to step away from the Starbucks board, bringing his extended stint in the company to an end.
He left on good terms, praising the team for their ongoing commitment to the company’s values. He also expressed high hopes for the future of the Starbucks under the leadership of its new executives.
Howard Schultz will always be remembered as the man who changed the way the world drinks coffee. His legacy will live on in the form of more than 30,000 stores spanning across 72 countries. Thank you, Howard, for all your contributions to building Starbucks into the company that it is today.