SEATTLE: Starbucks has risen in early trading after announcing that chief executive Kevin Johnson plans to retire next month and chairman emeritus Howard Schultz will return to the helm as his interim replacement. Mr Johnson, 61, is stepping down on April 4 after 13 years with the company, Starbucks said on Wednesday. He had signalled to the board a year ago that he would consider retirement when the pandemic neared an end, the company with headquarters in Seattle said. Schultz, 68, is coming back after a challenging start to the year for Starbucks, which faces rising costs and a growing unionisation push across the US. TLTP
