From Starbucks to the White House?

Howard Schultz, who made Starbucks coffee a multinational that has transformed the coffee market in North America, announces that he will soon be leaving the company, rehearsing rumors of a possible US presidential candidacy.

In a statement, Starbucks says Howard Schultz will be stepping down from his role as executive chairman of the company on June 26 to write a book.

The announcement came just two months after Schultz stepped down as CEO, which he named Kevin Johnson, the company’s number two. Howard Schultz then retained only the position of Executive Chairman, which he will be leaving shortly.

Mr. Schultz had been in charge of the company since 2008.

It is Myron Ullman, former CEO of the American JC Penney, who will succeed him in his duties.

In reflection on his future

According to Starbucks, Howard Schultz’s book will focus on the social impact of Starbucks and the moral responsibility of a large publicly traded company.

64-year-old Howard Schultz, from a modest background, is considered a close relative of the Democratic Party in the United States. He did not say whether he was interested in a career in politics, but speculation is rife following a number of recent statements he made about the state of his country.

“I am deeply concerned about the state of our country for some time now, about the rise of divisions and our position in the world,” he told the New York Times recently.

“I intend to look at various options and this may include public service,” said Howard Schultz when asked if he was going to run for the next presidential election, adding that he was still far from having made a decision.

Considered a socially committed businessman, particularly against racism, Howard Schultz pledged in January 2017 to recruit 10,000 refugees in his businesses over the next five years in response to the announcement of the anti-immigration decree imposed by current President Donald Trump.

He also supported, as a business leader, the claims of American workers who were demanding a minimum wage increase of $ 15 an hour.

In addition, his departure comes a few weeks after the broadcast of an embarrassing video showing the arrest for no reason of two black customers in a cafe Starbucks in Philadelphia following a complaint from the director of the institution. The company reacted by imposing anti-racism training on all US employees.

A multinational

A true multinational coffee company, Starbucks operates more than 28,000 coffees in 77 countries around the world, while the chain had only 11 at the time of Mr. Schultz’s arrival at the helm of the company in 1982.

Starbucks currently employs 330,000 people worldwide.

Listed on the stock market, the value of the company has grown by 21,000% since entering the market in 1992.