Starbucks' board of directors was worried.
Sales at the world's largest coffee company were slipping. An activist investor was clamoring for change. And Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz wasn't happy, sharing his displeasure in an open letter on LinkedIn criticizing the company's direction and leadership.
So, in July, according to Starbucks chair Mellody Hobson, the board started a conversation about a potential change in leadership. Soon after this, Hobson says she reached out to Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol through a third party.
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