James starbucks biography

American businessman

James Donald is an American businessman who was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Starbucks from to He was preceded by Orin C. Smith, who led the company since , and was succeeded by the coffeehouse's second president, Howard Schultz. Donald also held various executive positions with Albertsons.

Early life and education

Donald grew up in Florida and started working as a grocery bagger in Tampa when he was ^[1] Donald graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from American Century University in Albuquerque, New Mexico.^[2] From to , he held several managerial positions with Albertsons. While working at Albertsons, Donald pursued his undergraduate degree. It took 15 years for Donald to finish his degree because he was constantly moved to revamp distressed stores for Albertsons.^[3]

Career

In , he was recruited by Sam Walton to join Walmart to lead the development of its grocery business and Superstore concept.^{[citation needed]}Walmart was experimenting with selling groceries at six stores but hadn't figured out how to expand the concept. Donald revamped the company's dysfunctional distribution center, which hadn't been designed for grocery storage. By the time he left three years later, Walmart had added grocery sales in more stores.^{[citation needed]} Donald left Walmart for Safeway in , as senior vice president of its store eastern division until ^[4] At Safeway Donald was responsible for a $ billion business with more than 10, employees. He succeeded in reversing Safeway's four-year trend of declining same-store sales.^[5] Donald's first CEO role was at Pathmark Stores from to He took over Pathmark while the store chain was struggling with debt. Donald filed for a prepackaged Chapter 11 bankruptcy after a deal to sell the company failed. This strategy allowed him to "slough off debt and reemerge with a public company," according to an article published by Forbes.^[6]

Donald joined Starbucks in as president of the North American division. Donald replaced Orin C. Smith as CEO on April 1, ^[7] In January , Donald was replaced by Howard Schultz.^[8] During his tenure, Starbucks enjoyed record growth, including five straight years of 20%+ annual earnings increases.^[9] In , in an effort to reverse its ailing fortunes, Haggen Food & Pharmacy named Donald president and CEO.^{[citation needed]} Within two years Haggen was sold to Comvest Group. The new owners replaced Donald as CEO.

In February , Donald was named CEO of Extended Stay Hotels by Blackstone Group LP (BX), Centerbridge Partners LP and Paulson & Co., investment companies which had bought the hotel chain out of bankruptcy. Less than a year later, the company was transformed from an organization that was weeks away from running out of cash into the business that was named America's Most Improved hotel brand.^[10] Donald left Extended Stay in December, Investors Blackstone, Centerbridge, and Paulson were able to almost triple their investment when Extended Stay America Inc. went public in ^[11] He was CEO of Extended Stay America from to ^[12] Donald's first stint with Albertsons was from until ^[13] During that time he was head of operations in Phoenix, Arizona.^[14] After 27 years Donald returned to Albertsons on March 5, as president and COO.^[15]

See also

References