Remember Jim Donald? He's been named CEO Haggen Inc., Bellingham, Wash.-based grocery store company. Haggen operates 33 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon and had revenue of $844 million in 2008. Read "Haggen taps former Starbucks head as its CEO"
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September 28, 2009
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February 2012
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So is this an example of "failing upward?"
He helps drive Starbucks into the ground, and yet he is considered a valuable executive by another company.
"We are extremely pleased to attract an executive with Jim Donald's skills and record of success..." say the company owners. What record of success are they referring to? And the guy was unemployed. How hard was it to attract him to this job?
Posted by: drive | September 28, 2009 at 02:45 PM
now he'll guide them to open a supermarket on every spare corner in the north west...then across the u.s.
he'll guide them to throw away years of demographic studies and careful placement of his new brand in favor of cannibalization.
i wish i could suck at my job, run my store into the ground and still make millions.
Posted by: SMoftheleftcoast | September 28, 2009 at 03:35 PM
You guys are haters and welcome to America, Capitalism at it's finest...You go Jim, tank another company, but make sure you make your money in the process!!
Posted by: 50/50 | September 28, 2009 at 04:51 PM
Jim Donald didn’t destroy Starbucks alone; he had a lot of help. Howard Schultz was the Chairman of the inept and out of touch Board, and they all did this to Starbucks, the investors, and every partner. Jim was the scapegoat. Jim was fired and moved on, but we still have the other dopes running the company. I wonder who will be the next scapegoat. Howard better hire someone quickly because VIA looks like a potential catastrophe.
Posted by: sumatra sas | September 28, 2009 at 06:04 PM
I really miss Pat Nerr's GreenApronStories updates. Here's her/his Jim Donald you tube video, for the curious:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gS4Yq3_8jM
Posted by: Melody | September 28, 2009 at 08:29 PM
Just look at what has happened since Jim was fired and it should be obvious that not only did he not "ruin" the company, Howard is not "saving" it. Jim didn't buy a new jet, didn't spend something like $20 million on a leadership conference, didn't spend crazy money on Sorbetto, didn't buy Clover and do almost nothing with it, and isn't betting the company's future on instant coffee. These things are ALL the doing of Howard and the small group of people who enforce his will and pretend to support his decisions.
Posted by: Bdan | September 28, 2009 at 09:16 PM
Wow everybody...just be happy for the man. Also, quit bashing Howard all the time, he is a good man with good intentions. So what misguided at times, but a good man none-the-less. You go Jim, I personally am proud to say that I have worked with him as well as Howard. They are two very different yet amazing men.
Posted by: CoffeeCub23 | September 28, 2009 at 09:55 PM
Good for Jim!
Posted by: PDX Barista | September 28, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Jim is a good guy... he always responded back to people in a timely manner at all levels and did right by people.
Haggens is the perfect place for him...
Posted by: Pat Nerr | September 29, 2009 at 04:57 AM
I agree with Pat,
I worked there back in the day, and Jim was a really good guy, and a good leader. He was a savvy business man, who treated people great. As Bdan points out, he was in a difficult position.
Well done Jim!
Posted by: Matt | September 29, 2009 at 12:18 PM
I wonder if he needs equipment techs...
Posted by: Herman M. | September 30, 2009 at 06:51 AM
I wonder if he needs DM's?
Posted by: Sneaky | September 30, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Jim was one of the greatest guys in this company. I almost left when I heard he was fired!!!
Posted by: The Truth | September 30, 2009 at 05:08 PM
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Posted by: Belowrequirement | December 10, 2009 at 03:06 PM
Inga said "what a load of crap!" just for teh sake of irony, but I will refrain.
Really liked your blog. thank you
Posted by: kennenlernen | June 30, 2010 at 07:58 PM
Thanks BDan for keeping it real in here. :)
Posted by: Sass | November 11, 2011 at 01:20 AM