In an unprecedented move, Starbucks has secured Brian Niccol, the former CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill, as its new chief executive, with a compensation package that could reach an astonishing $113 million. This figure is significantly larger than that of his predecessor, Laxman Narasimhan, who was replaced after just 17 months in the role.
Niccol’s appointment, which took the business world by surprise, comes with a lucrative pay package, including a $10 million signing bonus and $75 million in stock options. These stock options are intended to compensate Niccol for the shares he will forfeit upon leaving Chipotle. Additionally, his annual base salary will be $1.6 million, and he will have the opportunity to earn up to $23 million in share-based bonuses each year, along with a cash bonus that could be as high as $3.6 million, depending on Starbucks’ performance.
Starbucks is also accommodating Niccol’s preference to work remotely from his Newport Beach, California home by covering the expenses of setting up a small remote office and hiring a local assistant. Moreover, Niccol will have access to the company’s airplane for trips to Starbucks’ Seattle headquarters.
As he prepares to take over the leadership on September 9, Niccol will be the fourth CEO of Starbucks in under three years. His compensation package is one of the largest in corporate history and far exceeds the $28 million that Narasimhan received when he joined from the UK-based Reckitt Benckiser in 2023.
The announcement of Niccol’s appointment has reignited the debate over executive pay, particularly as it comes at a time when the CEOs of the UK’s top 100 companies have seen their earnings soar to record levels. This development has led to renewed calls for a reassessment of wealth distribution practices in the corporate world.
Despite the recent turbulence at Starbucks, including a nearly 20% decline in its stock price over the past five years, the market reacted positively to Niccol’s appointment. The company’s shares surged by 24%, marking the best trading day in Starbucks’ history.
Starbucks has acknowledged Niccol’s track record, noting that he has consistently delivered strong financial returns throughout his career. His leadership will be crucial as Starbucks continues to face pressure from Elliott Investment Management, an activist investor demanding improvements in the company’s performance and governance.
Amid these executive changes, Starbucks is also dealing with ongoing unionization efforts among its employees. Although the company reached a new organizing framework with Starbucks Workers United in February, negotiations have yet to produce a labor agreement at any of the 370 locations where workers have voted to unionize. The future of these negotiations remains uncertain as Niccol steps into his new role.
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