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Howard Schultz is a transformative leader who built Starbucks over four decades into one of the world’s most recognized and respected businesses, a company committed to strengthening communities through human connection and innovation.

Howard’s journey with Starbucks began in 1981, when he first walked the doors of the whole-bean shop in Seattle’s Pike Place. There, he tasted his first sip of Sumatra and was invited into conversation with connoisseurs who took great care in not only finding and roasting the finest quality coffee, but also sharing their passion with others. In 1982, when Starbucks had only four stores, Howard moved to Seattle from his native New York and joined the company as director of operations and marketing.

A year later, in 1983, Howard traveled to Italy and became captivated with Italian coffee bars and the romance of the coffee experience. He had a vision to bring the Italian coffeehouse tradition to America. He wanted to create a place for human connection, conversation and one that fostered a sense of community – a third place between work and home. He left Starbucks for a short period of time to start his own Il Giornale coffeehouses and returned in August 1987 as chief executive officer to purchase Starbucks with the help of local investors.

From the beginning, Howard set out to build a different kind of company –one that delivers business excellence through a culture of compassion. In these early days, Howard created two landmark programs rooted in the fundamental belief that a business can only exceed expectations by sharing success with its people and the communities it serves. First, Starbucks offered comprehensive health coverage for eligible full- and part-time workers, among the first in the retail industry. Second, Starbucks offered partners (employees) equity in the company in the form of stock, called Bean Stock.

After growing the company to more than 3,000 stores and opening its first stores in Japan, China and Europe, Howard stepped down from the ceo role in 2000 to focus on international expansion as global chief strategist and chairman. He returned in January 2008 as ceo to lead the transformation of the company, bringing the company to sustainable, profitable growth with a renewed focus on Starbucks coffee heritage, innovation and the customer experience. Over the decade, Starbucks grew from 15,000 stores to nearly 30,000, including its groundbreaking Starbucks Reserve® Roastery locations, Community Stores, Military Family stores and a global agronomy center at Hacienda Alsacia. He opened up new educational opportunities through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, a first-of-its kind program to give partners a tuition-free college education online and committed to hiring tens of thousands of military veterans and spouses, opportunity youth and refugees.

Howard retired from the company in 2018 but rejoined Starbucks as interim chief executive officer and a member of the company’s Board of Directors on April 4, 2022.

At the heart of the Starbucks Experience today, just as it has been from the beginning, is Starbucks mission to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. 

Howard has been recognized for his passion, his leadership, and his efforts to strengthen communities. Howard was named Fortune’s 2011 Businessperson of the year for delivering record financial returns for the company while leading an effort to spur job creation in the U.S. He has also been honored with the Distinguished Business Leadership Award from the Atlantic Council, Distinguished Leadership Award from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Horatio Alger Award for those who have overcome adversity to achieve success; the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh Award for Business Ethics given by Notre Dame University’s Mendoza College of Business; the Botwinick Prize in Business Ethics from Columbia Business School; and the first-ever John Wooden Global Leadership Award from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He has also been included in Time magazine’s “Time 200,” a list of the most influential people in the world. He is also the best-selling author of “From the Ground Up: A Journey to Reimagine the Promise of America” (2019), “For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice” (2014), “Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul” (2011), and “Pour Your Heart Into It” (1997).

Howard and his wife, Sheri, are co-founders of the Schultz Family Foundation and emes project LLC, two organizations dedicated to creating greater opportunity, accessible to all. In partnership with nonprofits, businesses and governments, the Foundation and the emes project are focused on developing and investing in entrepreneurial, cross-sector solutions designed to build more equitable systems; foster our common bonds; strengthen our democracy; and create life-changing opportunity for people and communities who have historically been at the margins of our country’s promise, particularly young adults and post-9/11 veterans.

Howard earned a bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University. He spent three years in sales and marketing with Xerox Corporation. Before joining Starbucks, he was Vice President and General Manager of Hammarplast U.S.A., a Swedish housewares company.

Rachel Ruggeri was named executive vice president and chief financial officer in 2021.  In this leadership role, Rachel is responsible for the global finance function for Starbucks which includes developing and executing the financial strategies that enable the long-term growth of the company. 

Rachel joined Starbucks in 2001 as a member of the accounting team and had the responsibility in her first year of helping to launch the Starbucks Stored Value Card which has since become a significant vehicle of growth for the company.  During her tenure, she has held a variety of finance positions, largely within the US Business, and was promoted to vice president of Corporate Finance and Planning in 2010.  From 2014 to 2016, she was vice president of Finance in support of the US Business and from there, she was promoted to senior vice president of Global Retail in 2016.  Most recently, she served as the senior vice president of Americas with responsibility for the retail portfolio across the segment including company-operated and licensed/franchised stores. Her proudest moments, however, come from the many opportunities she has had to grow and develop talent within the organization.  Though numbers are her business, her passion is in working alongside the talented and inspiring partners within the Starbucks organization.

Rachel began her career in 1992 as a community college instructor and later took a role as an accountant in the public sector supporting a local municipality.  She worked in a variety of sectors prior to joining Starbucks and over the years including leadership roles in finance supporting social service organizations and within the food industry processing Idaho’s famous potatoes and supporting a well-loved, local pancake and bake mix brand. She holds a B.A from University of Puget Sound and an MBA from Washington State University.  When she is not at work, Rachel can be found spending time with her husband and her dogs (Vizslas) enjoying running, hiking, and the many outdoor activities that the great Northwest has to offer.  She is passionate about animal rescue and supports the Utah/Idaho Vizsla Rescue and the Chimpanzee Sanctuary Northwest, as well as many other great rescues in the area and across the country.  Her favorite Starbucks beverage, which she enjoys at least twice per day, is a grande iced, triple, espresso with extra, extra ice.   

Andy Adams is senior vice president, Store Development for Starbucks. He is responsible for leading the Store Development and Design teams focused on Starbucks growth while innovating and elevating the in-store customer experience.

He previously served as the senior vice president of Store Development and Design for China and Asia Pacific, leading and building the capability to open more than 1,100 stores from 2011-2015. During the same period, he led the team to establish Starbucks China Design and Concept Studio, driving innovation in a variety of store formats including three flagship locations and 50 Starbucks Reserve stores.

Andy started with Starbucks in 2004 in Toronto, Canada. He grew up in Canada and completed an advanced B.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba. Shortly after graduating, he began his career in real estate, becoming President of the Winnipeg Commercial Real Estate division as well as a tenant representative for Starbucks Coffee.

Andy has been married for more than 20 years and has three sons. As a family, they enjoy supporting the boys’ love of sports and adventure holidays.

His favorite espresso beverage is Starbucks double tall soy latte and a handcrafted pour-over of any single-estate, naturally-processed coffee roasted at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room.