Episode Details

DAMION

The next phase of Starbucks’ turnaround plan is offering executives up to $6 million in stock grants, as baristas scrap to get annual raises above 2%

Starbucks will reward company executives with up to $6 million in stock grants should they effectively fulfill cost-saving and timely rollout goals of the company’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround strategy. Starbucks Workers United representatives dubbed the move “ridiculous and irresponsible” amid contract negotiations over barista wages.

WHO DO YOU BLAME?

Double boomerang CEO and founder Howard Schultz

1987-2000; 2008-2017; 2022-2023

CEO and Chair Brian Niccol and his $113 million golden hello package

The company’s work-from-home policy which allows its CEO to work remotely from his home in Newport Beach, California, while the company's headquarters are in Seattle, Washington. As part of his employment agreement, Starbucks pays for him to travel between his home and the Seattle headquarters on the company’s private jet.

Former failure Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer who was appointed as a director to Starbucks 4 days before the announcement of the new retention awards. 

Compensation Committee chair Ritch Allison: The guy passes every pay plan for whoever; is the former CEO of Domino’s Pizza so is here to enrich executives; and owns $3M is SBUX stock so doesn’t really care: someone should be responsible for a CEO pay ratio of 6666:1

Agios Appoints Dr. Jay Backstrom to Board of Directors

Jay Backstrom appointed as Class III director as of July 8, 2025,  20 days after the company held an election to appoint two Class III directors.

WHO DO YOU BLAME?

The top 4 institutional investors (35% of voting power):

Farallon Capital 10% 

Vanguard 10%

BlackRock 9% 

BB Biotech 6%

The company’s childish bylaws which separate directors into three classes that are voted on every three years