Starbucks Founder and Chairman Emeritus Howard Schultz has confirmed he is considering running for presidency of the United States in 2020.
“I love our country, and I am seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent,” Howard said on Twitter.
“This moment is like no other. Our two parties are more divided than ever. Let’s discuss how we can come together to create opportunities for more people.”
Sitting US President Donald Trump also took to Twitter to voice his opinion on Schultz’s intention to run.
Howard Schultz doesn’t have the “guts” to run for President! Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the “smartest person.” Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019
Schultz says the while he has been a “lifelong Democrat”, he does not agree with all of the party’s current policies.
During his four decades as CEO and Chairman, Schultz grew Starbucks from 11 stores to more than 28,000 stores in 77 countries. Under Schultz’s leadership, Starbucks delivered a 21,000 per cent gain in the value of its stock price since its initial public offering in 1992.
The company’s growth was fuelled by his decisions to provide uncommon benefits for those who work for Starbucks, including comprehensive healthcare, stock ownership and free college tuition, even for those working part-time.
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Schultz stepped down as Executive Chairman and Member of the Board of Directors of Starbucks on 26 June, 2018.
“I set out to build a company that my father, a blue-collar worker and World War II veteran, never had a chance to work for,” Schultz wrote in a letter addressed to past and present Starbucks employees, whom the company calls partners. “Together we’ve done that, and so much more, by balancing profitability and social conscience, compassion and rigor, and love and responsibility.”
Among his many accolades, Schultz has been named one of The World’s Most Influential People by Time magazine as well as Business Person of the Year by Fortune. Most recently, Schultz has received the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award and has been presented with the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Business Leadership award and the NAACP LDF (Legal Defense and Education Fund) National Equal Justice award.
This year, Starbucks was named the fifth most admired company in the world by Fortune, marking the 16th year in a row that the company has appeared on the global list. Starbucks was also named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute for the 12th consecutive year and was ranked as one of 2018’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, most notably for its social-impact work.
