---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000829224-25-000016"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SBUX"
cik: "0000829224"
company_name: "STARBUCKS CORP"
filed_at: "2025-03-04T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-25T16:25:09.116614+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Starbucks appoints Cathy Smith as CFO as Rachel Ruggeri departs

## Summary
- Cathy Smith named EVP, CFO, effective date TBD; succeeds Rachel Ruggeri, who is leaving without cause.
- Smith's base salary $925K, target bonus 125% of salary; $5M cash signing bonus for forfeited prior employer awards.
- Smith receives replacement equity grant of $6.4M and FY2025 annual equity grant of $4.5M (60% PSUs, 40% RSUs).
- Smith was CFO at Nordstrom, Target, and Walmart International; Ruggeri assisted transition after 20 years at Starbucks.
- CEO Brian Niccol cites Smith's retail and turnaround experience for Back to Starbucks plan.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000829224-25-000016
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SBUX
- cik: 0000829224
- company_name: STARBUCKS CORP
- filed_at: 2025-03-04T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922425000016/0000829224-25-000016-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922425000016/sbux-20250304.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000829224-25-000016
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000829224-25-000016.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000829224-25-000016.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Cathy R. Smith was appointed as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer at STARBUCKS CORP.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
  source text: announced the appointment of Cathy R. Smith as executive vice president, chief financial officer
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/829224/000082922425000016/0000829224-25-000016-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.