Shocking Corporate Perk: Starbucks CEO's 1,600km Commute by Private Jet

Brian Niccol, the incoming CEO of global coffee major Starbucks, will travel 1,600 kilometers to work. The new Starbucks chief, who lives in Newport Beach, California, won’t have to relocate to Seattle.

Instead, he will ‘super-commute’ to the company’s headquarters using a corporate jet. The details of his travel arrangement were revealed in his offer letter filed by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Sharing the details of his work schedule, Starbucks told editorji, "Brian’s primary office and a majority of his time will be spent in the Starbucks Seattle Support Center or visiting partners and customers in stores, roasteries, roasting facilities and offices around the world. Brian’s schedule will exceed the hybrid work guidelines and workplace expectations Starbucks has for all partners.”

The Chipotle Deal

Speaking of Brian Niccol’s travel arrangements with Starbucks, this is not the first time he has struck such a deal. When he joined fast-food giant Chipotle in 2018, the company was headquartered in Denver. However, within three months of Niccol taking over as its chief executive, Chipotle moved its headquarters to Newport Beach, where he lived.

Base Salary of $1.6 Million

While his commute has become the talk of the town, it is still just a fraction of Brian Niccol’s new pay package. According to the SEC filing, the new Starbucks chief will draw an annual base salary of $1.6 million.

Based on his performance, he can also earn an annual cash bonus in the range of $3.6 million to $7.2 million. Additionally, Niccol will be eligible for equity awards worth up to $23 million a year.

Laxman Narasimhan’s Sudden Exit

Brian Niccol is taking over after Starbucks dismissed its Indian-American CEO Laxman Narasimhan earlier this month. Narasimhan had taken over as the interim CEO of the coffee major in October 2022, with the appointment becoming permanent in April 2023. While he was brought in to rejuvenate the company after a tumultuous phase, the Starbucks board replaced him with Niccol, who is known for the turnaround at Chipotle.