Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to join Starbucks' board

Starbucks today announced the nomination Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, to the Starbucks Board of Directors. Along with Satya, they also nominated Rosalind Brewer, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam’s Club, and executive vice president of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, Executive Chairman of the LEGO Brand Group.

“For 45 years, the success of the Starbucks brand has been built upon the preservation of the trust, confidence and connection we have with our customers and partners,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman and ceo. “Innovation and pushing to alter the status quo are also core to our culture, and by welcoming three world-class, values-based leaders — Roz, Jørgen and Satya — to Starbucks Board of Directors upon their election at the Annual Meeting, we will strengthen our leadership and add unmatched expertise in technology, strategy, and retail to the company at a time of unprecedented change for our industry. I look forward to welcoming each of these leaders to Starbucks Board of Directors.”

Starbucks mentioned the following about Satya’s nomination in the press release,

Satya Nadella will bring to the Starbucks Board extensive experience and an understanding of how technology will be used and experienced around the world.  He will provide the Board with invaluable insight in international operations and distribution as Starbucks continues to focus on innovative ways to use technology to elevate the brand and grow its business.  Nadella has served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Microsoft Corporation, a leading productivity and platform company, since February 2014.  He has held various leadership positions at Microsoft since joining the company in 1992.  Nadella currently serves on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center board of trustees.

“I’m honored to have been nominated to join the Board of this world-renowned company,” said Nadella. “As a regular customer myself, I’ve always admired Starbucks focus and deep passion for its customers and the communities it does business in and hope my years of experience in the technology industry will be of value to the company.”