'Starbucks' International Division CEO Sells Some Shares... Director Compensation in Stock

According to Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX), on April 6 Brady Brewer, president of the International segment, sold a portion of his common stock at $90 per share, realizing about $147,000 in proceeds (roughly KRW 200 million). He still retains holdings valued at approximately $7.59 million (over KRW 100 billion). On March 24, the company withheld shares from CFO Cathy R. Smith’s recently vested restricted stock units to cover her tax obligations, and on March 25 independent director Richard E. Allison Jr. received several thousand fully vested RSUs as board compensation, increasing his stake without any cash outlay.

In mid-March, RBC Capital downgraded its rating on Starbucks from Outperform to Sector Perform, dampening near-term investor sentiment. In response, Starbucks has accelerated improvements to its labor and service environment by rolling out a weekly-pay system for U.S. employees and unveiling a new benefits and compensation package, including an annual bonus of up to $1,200.

Headquartered in Seattle, Starbucks is the world’s largest coffeehouse chain, operating roughly 34,000 stores across more than 80 markets. Since Brian Niccol became CEO, the company has pursued its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy—emphasizing service-quality enhancements, store upgrades, and a revamped Rewards program—to drive a performance rebound and secure long-term sustainable growth.