Starbucks' new CEO tells us he'll never be Howard Schultz — and that's great news for the brand (SBUX)

pulse

April 3, 2017 4:32 PM

With Howard Schultz stepping down, Kevin Johnson is taking on the job of a man whose name has become synonymous with Starbucks over the last 30 years.

Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson with a barista.

As the new chief executive officer of Starbucks, Kevin Johnson has "venti" shoes to fill — a joke he has made more than once.

With Howard Schultz stepping down as CEO, Johnson is taking the place of a man whose name has become synonymous with Starbucks over the last 30 years. And Johnson has a lot of work to do.

Under Johnson's leadership, the chain hopes to grow from roughly 26,000 locations today to 37,000 by 2021. There are plans to open up to 30 upscale Roastery coffee shops around the world. Mobile orders are transforming the brand — but also causing problems for the company. And Starbucks has become a political hot topic, with critics launching boycott campaigns in response to everything from its minimalist red cups to its plan to hire 10,000 refugees globally.

We spoke about these things with Johnson, whose first day as CEO is Monday, at the company's headquarters in Seattle. Here's what we learned.

authenticity is guiding Johnson as he takes on the role of CEO.

Schultz's Starbucks order

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