In a surprising move, Michael Conway has resigned as Starbucks North America CEO after just six months in the role. Conway, who took over the position in March 2024, stepped down citing personal reasons. His departure has left many in the industry speculating about potential internal challenges or leadership strategy shifts within Starbucks.
During his brief tenure, Conway faced significant pressure to improve store operations and customer service, particularly as the company continued its push towards more digital and automated systems. Despite these challenges, he made notable progress in refining Starbucks’ North American supply chain and expanding its delivery capabilities.
Starbucks announced that Rachel Ruggeri, the company’s CFO, will serve as interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent replacement. This leadership change adds to the series of high-level executive shifts Starbucks has seen in the last year, signaling potential strategic re-alignments at the coffee giant.
The coffee chain remains optimistic about the future, as it continues to focus on innovations in technology and sustainability, despite the leadership change. Starbucks has not disclosed further details regarding the next steps for Conway or the ongoing search for a new CEO.
