Starbucks boss Howard Schultz steps down amid rumours of presidential run

Long-serving Starbucks boss, Howard Schultz, has said he will
step down later this month after 36 years at the company, and
hinted at a possible presidential run in 2020.

In an interview with The New York Times, Schultz acknowledged that
he may consider a bid for the White House.

“I want to be truthful with you without creating more
speculative headlines,” he said. “For some time now, I have been
deeply concerned about our country — the growing division at home
and our standing in the world.”

Later clarifying his remarks, the 64-year-old said: “I intend to
think about a range of options, and that could include public
service, but I’m a long way from making any decisions about the
future.”

Schultz is “one of the most politically outspoken corporate
leaders in America”, says CNN Money, and has been mentioned before as a
potential Democratic candidate.

Under his reign Starbucks has taken progressive stances on a
range of issues, including gay marriage, immigration and Trump’s
travel ban. Last year, it announced plans to hire 10,000 refugees
over five years.

The Seattle-based company offers healthcare to all full-time and
part-time employees and in March became one of the first major
corporations in the US to announce it had reached gender and race
pay equality.