Burrows named president of Starbucks Coffee US

Cliff Burrows, who has been with Starbucks since 2001, is currently president of the coffee company's Europe, Middle East and Africa division. He replaces Launi Skinner, "who resigned to spend more time with her husband and two daughters," says the company. (Translated: She was forced out to make room for Burrows.) Skinner joined Starbucks in August 1993 and was promoted to president, Starbucks Coffee US in September 2007. (Read the Starbucks press release)

Comments

Thanks Sarah! How is the atmosphere at the SSC these days -- grim????

Sorry to see Launi leave. I'm sure she'll enjoy more time with her family after being forced out by the powers that be. The press release was polite in saying she "resigned". Unfortunatley more will be leaving soon-- in time for the shareholder's meeting coming up.

Launi was not forced out. She chose to leave.

[MBA guy]

Where's your proof? An exec who leaves "to spend more time with their family" is corporate-speak for he/she was told to leave. Everyone in business knows that.

Where's your proof that she was forced out? It works both ways. Is that all you got "everyone knows that"?

[Melody]

Does anyone know how long she'd been with Starbucks? I think (I could be totally off base here) that I vaguely remember her name being mentioned in Pour Your Heart Into It. It seems like much of that book talks about the people who ran Starbucks from the early days (late 80s early 90s) until 1997.

[STARBUCKS GOSSIP WEBMASTER]

Melody, I just posted that she joined Starbucks in 1993.

[Pat Nerr]

She arranged my travel to Canada when the 13 stores went union... Who really knows why she left... family... whatever... the fact remains that she wasn't in the role for very long...

Melody... you might be thinking of Christine Day or Jenny Karreman.

[MBA guy]

Would this have been a more honest statement from Starbucks? Rings more true than the "spend more time with her family" BS.

"At the request of Howard Schultz, Launi Skinner stepped down so the newly installed CEO could appoint his own Starbucks US president."

I highly doubt that she "resigned" after a short 6 months serving as president.

i dont see why these guys and all the laid-off ones dont just get a job as a barista. flexible hours means plenty of time to spend with the spouse and kids. and theyre always hiring.

It is a polite way of saying "so long" in corporate America. And she probably got some sort of compensation package too. Another one, which happened to me, is that the position has been eliminated. Obviously her position could not be eliminated, so I think it was handled well and probably mutual consent by both parties.

Well, having worked as a barista, a shift supervisor, an ASM, and a store manager, I have to agree that being a barista is the most fun...and flexible. Too bad the pay sucks.

Why would Howard force her out? He would have been the one to hire her and not to mention it's not like he was absent from Starbucks from 2000 till now-he was still the Chairman the whole time! I worked for her in Canada-smart lady.
Pat: why did she send you to Canada during the unionization? Do tell!

[almostanasm]

If she was only in the role for 6 months, maybe it genuinely was because her personal life was loosing out to the demands of the company. Perhaps there was a family matter that demanded her focus. Honestly, ppl here read inbetween the lines WAY too much!!!

[Pat Nerr]

she didn't "send" me there... she was an admin I think in the Western Canada office... if memory serves me correctly. 1995-ish. It may have been an office manager role... that was a fun gig. Vancouver BC SBUX are the bomb... especially the unionized ones.

huh. interesting. normally we hear these things before they hit the media...curious to find out who will replace him at EMEA!

Pat: Vancouver IS the BOMB! I worked for SBUX there during the unionizing drive-at 2 of the Union stores, actually. I will NEVER understand what all the fuss was about-the company fought long and hard against it, and before anyone tries to tear a strip off me I'll say I see both sides, but I was there and it really wasnt a big problem-everyone worked it out JUST FINE!
I know very well how Howard feels that if we all trusted, him partners wouldnt feel the need for Unions (see Pour Your Heart Into It)

Maybe it's just that generally Canadians are more polite and more Socialized politically...who knows, but it worked fine!
I've heard a rumor that the last union shop de-certified...Oh well-that's how democracy works, eh!

Van-Groovey is the best!

[BOSTON STARBUCKS REBEL]

Maybe Uncle Howie didn't see her in the office on Sunday mornings and couldn't drink the aged Sumatra with him so he decided it would be best to can her ass. To put it simply, if you aren't ready to commit your every waking moment to Starbucks then you can leave and Uncle Howie will find somebody better. Maybe, she disagreed with firing 220 good workers from the SSC and decided to leave in protest. Or maybe Uncle Howie saved a special pink slip just for her.

I believe she resigned, either way, it's a sad loss for Starbucks.

[that girl]

They unionized under the United Auto Workers Association. Tried to claim because we sold commuter mugs meant for cars and catered to people diving or some silly thing.Originally they went union to demand a higher wage and better scheduling. They got the wage increase, and so did every one else in BC, 75 cents an hour ( I forget what min wage was at the time)but they had to use the union's medical coverage which was not as good as what Starbucks offered, they had to pay union dues and attend union meetings. Their way of protesting and demanding better schedules was by being pretty loose with dress code and allowing people to wear peircings, dress sloppy and wear aprons optionally etc. To be honest the worst service I ever got was at the unionized stores where they were also pretty loose with standards and I would avoid them. And honestly your schedule is only as good as your availabilities as a group, the demands of your customer flow and the ability of your manager to give good coverage. I know people who where hired worked a few years and left Starbucks unionized stores and were never really sure why they were union or what they were supposed to be protesting. In the end several unionized stores left the union as they didn't feel they were gaining anything and the staff really had no interest in union newsletters and issues let alone paying union dues.

But Launi was always great. I remember Cos LaPorta too. Both very positive people, passionate about what they did and the company. Sad to see Launi go after so long.

[Vicki Verona]

Cos LaPorta is a great guy. I had a question/feedback that wasn't getting a response by my DM, RDO, and RVP and he responded back on a Saturday with a 1 page e-mail response to my question.

[The other girl]

That Girl:
WOW! Biased much????? You had a VERY different opinion of the Unionized stores than I did. Your welcome for getting you and everyone else the raise-it was given to stop other stores from joining up. Dues were something like 2% so not really a huge burden considering it bought us, among other things,a fair grievance procedure...Anyway I respect your right to be just as biased as I am - It's a pretty loaded topic, eh?

[Pat Ner]

Launi left under "duress". She was part of the pioneering food development group along with Margie Giuntini in the mid-90's. To take a position as a barista after making a salary of $400+k/annum would be quite a step down.
Many of the upper level management is currently under duress since their "highly paid" positions are in jeopardy. International leadership is like a revolving door with new presidents every 2 years. Jim Ailing switched with Ol' King Coles when he was'nt able do the job in the US. Launi took over "temporarily" only to be "dissed" by HS. Now King Coles is restructuring SBUX the same way he restructuredGateway Computers during its demise.

Whomever takes over EMEA is in for a surprise. There may be presidential "switches" between Latin America, EMEA, and Asia Pacific to satisfy King Coles appetite for extreme "change management". Maybe they'll bring back Kathie Lindemann back to OPS from the doldrums of food service.

Maybe she thought it would be a good idea to get off a sinking ship.

[Jewels]

I don't know Launi that well, but it seemed to me she was pretty out of touch with what was going on on a store level. call me crazy, but i think corporate should pay starbucks stores a VISIT now and again (and not just the one at the bottom of the SSC)

Launi comes into my store all the time. I made her a double tall nonfat extra dry cappuccino just the other day. I am sad to see her leave.

if the big brass get their beverages at the store at the bottom of the SSC, do they use their partnercard for a discount? or do they pay full price? do they tip? do the baristas there feel under extra pressure to be perfect (even before the 3 day training)?

[Pat Ner]

Yes, partner discounts are offered at the SSC. They do not tip. And the baristas change stores on a monthly basis.

[jewels]

dang-
i couldn't even imagine working at the store at the bottom of the ssc. what's it called anyway?
the pressure would end up killing me. like a never ending d-day. no wonder they rotate. anyone here work there?

[Limeyboy]

Just wait till you all meet Cliff - he's like something out of "The Office"...

Cliff is more like something out of "Cheers".....