New Starbucks CEO to commute 1,000 miles in corporate jet

Starbucks has offered its new chief executive the use of a corporate jet for his 1,000-mile commute.

The firm said Brian Niccol could continue to live at his home in Newport Beach, California, and use the aircraft to travel to its offices in Seattle, Washington, when he takes up the role next month.

The world’s largest coffee chain said the 50-year-old would be expected to work at least three days a week at its headquarters, when not otherwise travelling for work.

Critics said it undermined Starbucks’s pledge to halve its carbon footprint by 2030 via environmentally friendly measures such as eliminating its use of plastic straws.

Mr Niccol will be paid a base annual salary of $1.6m (£1.2m) – but could earn up to $100m (£76m) in equity and bonus payments in his first year, it was also revealed.

He will be eligible to use the corporate jet for “business-related travel”, “travel between [his] city of residence and the company’s headquarters”, and “personal travel”, in accordance with company policies, of up to $250,000 (£191,000) per year.

Another perk will be the use of a remote office set up by the firm in Newport Beach, with an assistant of his choosing also provided.

A Starbucks spokesperson told CNBC: “Brian’s primary office and a majority of his time will be spent in our Seattle Support Center or out visiting partners and customers in our stores, roasteries, roasting facilities and offices around the world.

“His schedule will exceed the hybrid work guidelines and workplace expectations we have for all partners.”

It comes after the outgoing boss of burrito chain Chipotle was announced as the company’s new chief executive following the sudden departure of Laxman Narasimhan earlier this month.

Starbucks has recently been suffering from falling sales, attributed to weaker demand amid price rises and boycotts related to the war in Gaza.

Mr Niccol, who has also held senior positions at major US food chains including Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, has been credited with transforming Chipotle’s fortunes – including helping to nearly double its revenue under his leadership.

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However, the corporate jet policy sparked a backlash online and from campaign groups.

Alethea Warrington, from climate charity Possible, said the plan “makes an utterly grotesque mockery of any claims by this company to be a responsible corporate citizen when it comes to the climate”.

She added: “If Starbucks is remotely serious about cutting its carbon footprint by 2030, this should start from the top down.”

Meanwhile, on social media, one user wrote: “No company who truly cares about the climate would agree to this.”

Another added: “How can anyone justify a 1,000-mile commute by private jet? Makes Starbucks sustainably policy look like greenwashing.”

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A spokesperson for thinktank the High Pay Centre said: “It’s important in business leadership that employees can see that it’s not one rule for them and one rule for their bosses.

“It would come across as unfair and poor leadership if Niccol is not able to match the office presence that the company is demanding of its employees.”

Sky News has approached Starbucks for comment.

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