U.S.A. New C.E.O. for Starbucks in a wave of union pressure

Starbucks (turnover of US$32.23 billion, up 10.9%, net margin of 10.2% of sales) announced that Laxman Narasimhan (aged 55) will take over as the new C.E.O. on 20th March. He moves from C.E.O. of the Reckitt Benckiser group (parent company of Finish, Durex, Nurofen and Veet) and replaces Howard Schultz.

This appointment comes when the group is experiencing a wave of union pressure from staff in the U.S.A. over the last 18 months. At the end of March, Democratic congressmen accused Starbucks...