(Washington) The former emblematic boss of Starbucks, Howard Schultz, left his seat on the company’s board of directors on Wednesday, of which he is now chairman emeritus, after having left the management in March to his successor, Laxman Narasimhan, the group announced.

“Howard Schultz, founder and chairman emeritus of the company, will resign from the board of directors effective today as part of a planned transition,” the Seattle group announced in a press release.

He “transformed Starbucks from a small company selling only whole beans” to today’s group, which has “more than 36,000 stores in 86 markets around the world,” and “IPOed on June 26, 1992 », It is specified.

Howard Schultz returned to the group on a temporary basis in April 2022, four years after his departure, when the CEO who succeeded him, Kevin Johnson, retired after five years in the role.

He had faced a unionization movement in the group, and had made no secret of his opposition.

He had also ensured the transition with Laxman Narasimhan, who took charge last March.

Mr. Schultz, “who built Starbucks into a company that has served as a launching pad for millions of people, will now focus his attention, with his wife Sheri, on a range of philanthropic and entrepreneurial investments to create more great opportunities, accessible to all,” Starbucks said in its press release.

This manager with modest origins was one of the first to grant health coverage and stock options to all his employees, even those working part-time.

He has also taken a stand on social issues such as racial inequality and same-sex marriage.

Howard Schultz is now worth $3.2 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

Starbucks also announced the election of Wei Zhang to the board of directors. This former manager of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba will join the coffee chain from October 1.