Jim Donald - Former CEO, Starbucks
Jim Donald was appointed Executive-in-Residence for the
Business Program at the University of Washington Bothell in January 2009.
In
this role, he will
provide valuable insight and mentoring to current undergraduate and graduate
students and faculty. He will also support the program through lectureship on
topics as broad as leadership and business strategy to the all-important
"What They Don't Teach You in Business School."
Jim can be reached at JDonald@uwb.edu
About Jim Donald
Jim Donald joined Starbucks Coffee Company in October of
2002 as President, North America, working closely with retired CEO, Orin Smith
and Chairman Howard Schultz. In this position, Donald was responsible for the
overall management, business development, and operations of Starbucks in all
North American markets. During this period, the company experienced record
financial performance, attributable largely to its success in North America.
On October 12, 2004, Donald was promoted to President and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2005 through 2008. As CEO, he was responsible for all
Starbucks business operations, supply chain and general administrative
functions. Donald also joined the Starbucks Board of Directors at this time.
At Starbucks, Donald's influence helped the company enjoy exponential
growth and performance as customers continued to embrace the Starbucks Experience. Though the
company has grown beyond 15,000 stores in 43 countries, Donald believes that
the human connection between customers and baristas accounted for each
Starbucks store becoming a neighborhood gathering place. He also continued
Starbucks's strong commitment to corporate social responsibility with efforts
to develop ethical sourcing practices for products such as coffee and cocoa,
fund water projects in developing countries, and reduce the company's environmental
footprint.
Donald
began his career in 1971 as a trainee with Publix Super Markets, Inc. Joining
Albertson's in 1976, he quickly rose through its managerial ranks in its
Florida, Alabama, and Texas divisions and was head of Albertson's operations in
Phoenix, Arizona.
Handpicked by Sam Walton in 1991 to build a major presence in the supermarket
business for Wal-Mart, Donald was a key executive in Wal-Mart's development and
expansion of the Wal-Mart Super Center, supervising all merchandising,
distribution, store design, and real estate operations.
Donald served as President and Manager of Safeway's 130-store Eastern division
from 1994 to 1996. He was responsible for a $2.5 billion business, 10,000
employees comprised of 130 stores and two distribution centers. With a clear
vision and inspiring front-line leadership, he was able to reverse a four-year
trend in declining same-store sales.
Donald joined Pathmark Stores, Inc. in 1996 as Chairman, President and CEO.
Pathmark, a $4.6 billion, 143-unit regional supermarket chain is located in the
New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.