Laxman Narasimhan

Former Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation

Independent Director since: 2021

Committees:
Corporate Governance and Policy
Human Resources

 

Key skills and experience:

  • Leadership: Insightful and strategic leader with wide experience across the consumer goods sector and a proven track record in developing purpose-led brands, including as CEO of Starbucks and Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, a FTSE 12 listed British multinational global consumer health, hygiene and nutrition company. Credited with improving sales and profit while managing approximately $18 billion in revenue at businesses across 100 countries and 125,000 employees as CEO of PepsiCo's Latin America, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa operations.
  • Consumer/B2B/retail: Provides valuable experience and thought leadership in helping complex, global consumer-facing businesses improve demand and widespread appeal for core brand name labels. Prior to joining Starbucks, Reckitt Benckiser and PepsiCo, spent 19 years at McKinsey & Company, focusing on its consumer, retail and technology practices in the United States, Asia and India.
  • Risk management: Developed significant risk management experience, including supply chain risk management experience, while piloting Reckitt Benckiser through the supply chain disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Strategic planning: Articulated corporate purpose at Reckitt Benckiser and led the company through a major strategic transformation and a return to sustainable growth. Eliminated complexity and simplified operations in order to remain agile and manage surging demand for certain consumer products during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Career highlights:

  • Starbucks Corporation, the premier roaster, marketer and retailer of specialty coffee in the world

    • Chief Executive Officer (2023-August 2024)
    • Chief Executive Officer-elect (2022-2023)
  • Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc, a global consumer-goods company (2019-2022)
  • PepsiCo, Inc., a leading global food and beverage company 
    • Global Chief Commercial Officer (2019)
    • Chief Executive Officer, Latin America, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa (2017-2019)
    • Other executive positions (2012-2017)
  • McKinsey & Company (1993-2012)

 

Other public company boards:

Starbucks Corporation (2023-August 2024)
Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (2019-2022)

 

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