Rosalind Brewer (Starbucks photo)
Rosalind Brewer (Starbucks photo)
Rosalind Brewer, a Detroit Cass Tech High School graduate, and former president and CEO of Sam's Club, has been been named group president and chief operating officer of Starbucks. It is the second-highest ranking post in the company.
“Starbucks is a culture-first company focused on performance and Roz is a world class operator and executive who embodies the values of Starbucks," Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and CEO said in a statement issued Wednesday. "She has been a trusted strategic counselor to me ever since she joined our board of directors, and I deeply value her insight, business acumen, and leadership expertise.
"Roz is the right leader to help us realize our greatest of ambitions in this next chapter of our journey."
Brewer is the first woman, and the first African American, to hold that title.
Brewer will report to Johnson and serve as a member of Starbucks senior leadership team. She will also continue to serve on the Starbucks board of directors.
In her new post, she'll lead the company’s operating businesses across the U.S., Canada and Latin America, as well as the global functions of supply chain, product innovation and store development organizations, the company said.
“As a passionate customer of the brand and recently elected board member, I have a deep love and admiration for the Starbucks brand and its people," Brewer said in a statement. "I am so honored to have the pleasure of working with the Starbucks leadership team to realize our highest of aspirations for the company and I look forward to working closely with the astute and talented leaders across the enterprise."
In 2013, Forbes magazine named Brewer one of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes.
In 2016, she was the keynote speaker at the Cass Tech graduation ceremony.
She graduated from the high school in 1980.