Starbucks shuffles management; new role for Americas head

NEW YORK – Starbucks is shuffling its management, including a new role for the executive who headed its flagship Americas unit for eight years.

The move comes after the unit reported disappointing sales growth last week, though the coffee chain said the two are unrelated.

A letter from Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz posted online Monday said Cliff Burrows, the head of the Americas division, will shift to oversee a new group called Siren Retail that includes the Teavana business, and its “Roastery” and “Reserve” stores.

Starbucks said all geographic units will now report to John Culver, who is being named president of global retail. Culver had been leading the Asia unit.

The company had trimmed its sales forecast Thursday after reporting sales growth of 4 percent for the Americas unit.