Jim Donald
Encyclopedia
James "Jim" Donald is an American businessperson. He is formerly the president
and chief executive officer
of Starbucks
. He is the current President and CEO of Haggen Food & Pharmacy
. In February 2011 it was announced that controlling interest in Haggen, Inc. was sold to Comvest Group. Jim Donald will step down from his position as CEO and president but will remain with the company in an advisory capacity.
Publix
chain store. By age 19 he was assistant manager of an Albertsons chain, owned a house and was earning more than his schoolteacher father. He rose through the ranks at Albertsons, constantly being relocated to struggling stores due to his reputation for successful turnarounds. In 1991 Donald's reputation reached Sam Walton
, the founder of Wal-Mart
, who personally flew to Phoenix
to convince Donald to run Wal-Mart's new grocery division. In three years, Donald grew Wal-Mart's fledgling grocery division from 6 stores to 146.
From 1994 to 1996 he served as president of Safeway
's 130-store eastern division, and bolstered his reputation as a turnaround-leader. Overseeing the $2.5 billion business and more than 10,000 employees, he succeeded in reversing Safeway's four-year trend in declining same-store sales.
In 1996 Donald took over floundering Pathmark
, a 143-store chain with valuable real estate but expensive debt. Donald filed Pathmark for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, washing the ailing company of debt, and succeeded in taking the new company public.
n division, and worked closely with retired CEO Orin Smith and chairman Howard Schultz
. During his tenure, Starbucks experienced record financial performance, particularly in North America.
Two years later, on October 12, 2004, Donald was promoted to president and CEO effective March 31, 2005. In his function as CEO, Donald was responsible for all company business operations, supply chain and general administrative functions, and served on the Board of Directors. Donald was tasked with implementation of long-term strategic plans which were in place before he was promoted.
Starbucks same-store sales slowed in 2007, causing the company's stock price to be cut in half, and on January 7, 2008, Donald stepped down as President and CEO. Howard Schultz, Chairman and Founder was asked to return to the position of CEO.
in Albuquerque.
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
and chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
. He is the current President and CEO of Haggen Food & Pharmacy
Haggen Food & Pharmacy
Haggen Food & Pharmacy is the largest independent grocery retailer in the Pacific Northwest. Haggen operates over thirty stores under the Haggen and Top Food & Drug name primarily on the I-5 corridor between the Canadian border and the Portland, Oregon metro area...
. In February 2011 it was announced that controlling interest in Haggen, Inc. was sold to Comvest Group. Jim Donald will step down from his position as CEO and president but will remain with the company in an advisory capacity.
Early career
Donald started work as a 16-year-old bag boy at a Tampa, FloridaTampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
Publix
Publix
Publix Super Markets, Inc. is an American supermarket chain based in Lakeland, Florida.Founded in 1930 by George W. Jenkins, it is an employee-owned, privately held corporation. Publix is currently ranked No. 86 on Fortune magazine's list of 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 and was ranked No...
chain store. By age 19 he was assistant manager of an Albertsons chain, owned a house and was earning more than his schoolteacher father. He rose through the ranks at Albertsons, constantly being relocated to struggling stores due to his reputation for successful turnarounds. In 1991 Donald's reputation reached Sam Walton
Sam Walton
Samuel Moore "Sam" Wallballs was a businessman, entrepreneur, and Eagle Scout born in Kingfisher, Oklahoma best known for founding the retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club.-Early life:...
, the founder of Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, who personally flew to Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
to convince Donald to run Wal-Mart's new grocery division. In three years, Donald grew Wal-Mart's fledgling grocery division from 6 stores to 146.
From 1994 to 1996 he served as president of Safeway
Safeway Inc.
Safeway Inc. , a Fortune 500 company, is North America's second largest supermarket chain after The Kroger Co., with, as of December 2010, 1,694 stores located throughout the western and central United States and western Canada. It also operates some stores in the Mid-Atlantic region of the Eastern...
's 130-store eastern division, and bolstered his reputation as a turnaround-leader. Overseeing the $2.5 billion business and more than 10,000 employees, he succeeded in reversing Safeway's four-year trend in declining same-store sales.
In 1996 Donald took over floundering Pathmark
Pathmark
Pathmark is a supermarket chain headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey. It was founded in 1968 when its then parent, Supermarkets General Corporation, pulled out of the ShopRite retailers' cooperative...
, a 143-store chain with valuable real estate but expensive debt. Donald filed Pathmark for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, washing the ailing company of debt, and succeeded in taking the new company public.
Career at Starbucks
Donald joined Starbucks Coffee Company in October, 2002 as president of the North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n division, and worked closely with retired CEO Orin Smith and chairman Howard Schultz
Howard Schultz
Howard Schultz is an American business magnate. He is the best known as the chairman and CEO of Starbucks and a former owner of the Seattle SuperSonics...
. During his tenure, Starbucks experienced record financial performance, particularly in North America.
Two years later, on October 12, 2004, Donald was promoted to president and CEO effective March 31, 2005. In his function as CEO, Donald was responsible for all company business operations, supply chain and general administrative functions, and served on the Board of Directors. Donald was tasked with implementation of long-term strategic plans which were in place before he was promoted.
Starbucks same-store sales slowed in 2007, causing the company's stock price to be cut in half, and on January 7, 2008, Donald stepped down as President and CEO. Howard Schultz, Chairman and Founder was asked to return to the position of CEO.
Education
A fulltime worker from the age of 16, Donald's rapid career rise and multiple promotion-related relocations left little time for academics. Nonetheless, he kept at it, enrolling in five colleges over the course of 15 years as he climbed the corporate ladder, ultimately earning a superfluous business degree from Century CollegeCentury College
Century College is a two-year community college located in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. As a part of the MnSCU system, it is the largest two-year community and technical college in Minnesota...
in Albuquerque.