(San Francisco) Starbucks’ new boss has yet to take office, but his working conditions sparked controversy Thursday: Brian Niccol will have access to a jet owned by the American group to travel to the headquarters, located about 1,600 kilometers from his home.
“You will be able to use the company plane to […] travel between your city of residence and the company’s headquarters in Seattle, Washington,” said the board’s letter offering the position to the executive, published Thursday on the stock market watchdog’s website.
A former CEO of the Mexican fast-food chain Chipotle, Brian Niccol lives in Newport Beach, a California town south of Los Angeles, about a 2-hour 40-minute flight from Seattle.
PHOTO MARK LENNIHAN, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Brian Niccol, new boss of Starbucks
“During the term of your employment with the Company, you will not be required to relocate to the Company’s headquarters,” the letter states.
“You agree to commute between your home and the company headquarters [et d’effectuer d’autres déplacements professionnels] in the exercise of your functions and responsibilities.
The news has caused controversy on social media, with some users accusing Starbucks of hypocrisy as the coffee chain regularly highlights its environmental efforts, such as eliminating plastic straws.
Environmental activists accuse private jet users of causing CO emissions2 much larger than those of commercial flights, and some associations have increased their actions against these planes.
Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request from AFP.
Like many other companies, Starbucks requires its administrative employees to come into the office at least three days a week, and the new boss will be no exception.
It will also have a relocated office in Newport Beach.
The company, which has been suffering from a drop in activity for several months in a context of rising prices and pressure from shareholders, announced at the beginning of August the departure with immediate effect of its boss Laxman Narasimhan, in office for sixteen months.
Brian Niccol will have an annual base salary of $1.6 million.