Starbucks’ new CEO is going to be compensated with up to 1,000 miles a day just for commuting to work in an aircraft while living in California and at the corporate base in Seattle. His first year could see him earning up to $100 million, which critics say might run counter to Starbucks’ green goals

Just appointed as CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol has been making quite a buzz. The former man at the helm of Taco Bell and Chipotle is taking up his new job at Starbucks next month. Here’s his ace in the hole: he’s going to be meanwhile commuting 1,000 miles from his home in Newport Beach, California, to Starbucks’ headquarters in Seattle, Washington, using the corporate jet. Yes, a 1,000-mile commute by private jet!

What’s the Deal?
He will keep his California home and fly back and forth to Seattle for work. True, Starbucks has been promising him a corporate jet for both work and personal travel. Trouble is, one of those things can run to $250,000 a year, and his total pay package could rise to a whopping $100 million in year one. That’s $1.6 million in base salary and more in bonuses and options. Not bad for his inaugural effort!

Why the Controversy?
Not all are content with the move. For instance, using a private jet, to most of them, doesn’t make sense if at all Starbucks is committed to cutting carbon emissions. It has promised to halve its carbon emissions by 2030. But 1,000 miles by jet isn’t exactly the first thing that pops into mind when you think about going “green,” is it?

Alethea Warrington, from climate charity Possible, called the jet plan: ‘a grotesque mockery’ of Starbucks’ green ambitions. She told The Guardian that she thought that if Starbucks wants to show it’s serious about battling climate change, then it needs to start at the top.

New Post for Niccol
But, that has not defused Starbucks’s excitement in regard to Niccol. The company is counting on his history of turning businesses around. He was at Chipotle for several years and led the company to nearly double its profit during some of that time. Here is his track record, among the reasons Starbucks opted to give him the leadership role at the coffee giant.

“Niccol will mostly be in the Seattle office or on the road visiting stores, roasteries, and other locations around the world,” Starbucks said. The company also expects him to live up to the guidelines it has set for hybrid work for all employees. In other words, Niccol’s going to still be a busy bee, only he’ll be commuting in style.

Public Reactions
Over on social media, eyebrows are being raised. How can anyone justify a 1,000-mile commute by private jet, one user mused? Readers elsewhere are at least as miffed. Some think the plan makes Starbucks’ green promises look like “greenwashing,” or pretending to care about the environment without actually doing much.

A spokesman for the High Pay Centre, a think tank for fair pay, said it is very important for leaders of companies to play according to the same rules as their employees, too. They are concerned that this deal could be seen as one rule for the boss and another rule for the rest.

What Starbucks Has to Say
Starbucks Management’s Defense of the Decision After this decision, Starbucks issued a defense against the same. The company’s spokesperson, in part forward, lauded Niccol’s leadership, holding that his many millions of dollars-worth pay is pegged on the company’s performance. He went ahead to confirm that Niccol shall spend most of his time in the company’s Seattle headquarters or in other company sites. He’ll also have a house in Seattle to remain in tune with the company’s hybrid work model.

At the end of the day, Starbucks is hoping the real draw with Niccol at the reins will be his ability to help the company rebound from their worst-performing market in almost a decade with declining sales and customer boycotts. With his experience and a hefty pay package, the company is betting that he’ll help them brew up some success.

So, while 1,000 miles by jet might sound over the top, Starbucks is counting on Niccol to make a long trip-bringing the Starbucks spirit to Taco Bell. Whether this plan aligns with their green goals is up for debate, but it seems clear that Starbucks is investing in a very big way on its new leader.