Starbucks' new chief executive Laxman Narasimhan has committed to working a shift in a company coffee shop each month. The CEO told workers he will do half a day in a shop at one of the store's locations.
Narasimhan joined Starbucks in October and spent 40 hours undergoing barista training. According to CNBC reports he has even donned the company's famous green apron.
The executive took charge of the company on Monday, and led his first shareholder meeting on Thursday. However, he says he is not ready to hang up the apron just yet.
In a letter to company employees, he said: "To keep us close to the culture and our customers, as well as to our challenges and opportunities, I intend to continue working in stores for a half day each month, and I expect each member of the leadership team to also ensure our support centres stay connected and engaged in the realities of our stores for discussion and improvement."
Before joining Starbucks, Narasimhan was chief executive of Reckitt, which owns brands like Lysol and Durex. Previously, he worked at PepsiCo and McKinsey.