Kevin Johnson has been named president and chief operating officer of Starbucks Corp., effective March 1. Mr. Johnson, who has been a member of Starbuck’s board since 2009, will take on some of the responsibilities earlier held by Troy Alstead. Mr. Alstead earlier this month said he would be taking a sabbatical beginning March 1 to spend more time with his family. Over the next month, Mr. Alstead will work with Mr. Johnson to ensure a smooth transition.

“As a member of our board of directors, Kevin has worked closely with me for the past six years as a sounding board and collaborator on many of the strategies we are now pursuing,” said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Kevin’s deep management experience and technology background will help further propel Starbucks efforts in partner (employee) and customer-facing innovations as we accelerate our global growth agenda. I am honored that Kevin is joining Starbucks in this capacity, particularly at this important time for our company, and I am looking forward to working with him and our strongest management team in the company’s 44-year history.”

Johnson will report to Schultz and serve as a member of Starbucks senior leadership team, as well as continue on the board of directors. He ceased membership on all Starbucks board committees prior to this appointment.

In his role as president and COO, Johnson will lead the company’s global operating businesses across the Americas, EMEA (Europe Middle East and Africa), and China/Asia Pacific, as well as Starbucks supply chain, information technology, and mobile and digital platforms. Reporting to Johnson will be Cliff Burrows, group president, U.S., Americas and Teavana; John Culver, group president, China/Asia Pacific, Channel Development and Emerging Brands; as well as other senior leaders responsible for Starbucks supply chain, mobile and digital, and information technology organizations.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Howard, Troy and Starbucks senior leadership team for many years, and I am delighted to extend that relationship even deeper to work closely with our partners in operations, supply chain, technology and mobile and digital teams to drive our aggressive growth plans,” Johnson said. “Over the past six years I have gotten to know the company well and I look forward to extending my 33 years of operating experience to help propel Starbucks to the next decade of growth and innovation. I am honored and humbled to join Starbucks, a company that I love, during this important time.”

Johnson most recently was CEO of Juniper Networks, Inc. from September 2008 through December 2013. Prior to that, he was president of the Platforms Division at Microsoft Corp. and was a member of Microsoft’s senior leadership team and held a number of senior executive positions over the course of his 16 years at Microsoft.