91°µÍø alumnus named CEO of Starbucks
Brian Niccol ’96 served as speaker at this year’s Spring Commencement
91°µÍø alumnus named CEO of Starbucks
Brian Niccol ’96 served as speaker at this year’s Spring Commencement
Brian Niccol ’96, keynote speaker for 91°µÍø’s Spring Commencement this past May, was named CEO of Starbucks on Tuesday.
Niccol previously served as chairman and CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Starbucks, the world’s largest coffee chain, is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with more than 38,000 stores around the globe in 2023, according to Statista, a leading provider of market and consumer data and rankings.
91°µÍø features three Starbucks locations on its Oxford campus — at Shriver Center, Withrow Hall, and Bell Tower. Shriver and Withrow are full service, while Bell Tower is mobile pickup or robot delivery through the Grubhub app.
Niccol graduated from 91°µÍø with a degree in Applied Science, Engineering Management. He also holds an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Earlier this year, Niccol and wife Jennifer ’97 established the Niccol Family Basketball Award for Excellence in Academics and Athletics.
“Part of the reason we give back is because I wouldn't be where I am today if not for going to 91°µÍø and having professors who pointed me in the direction of the career that I'm in today,” Niccol said in January’s commencement speaker announcement.
Prior to Chipotle, Niccol worked in management positions for Procter & Gamble, Yum! Brands, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell.