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Laxman Narasimhan said he doesn't work past 6 pm. Ex-Starbucks CEO's 1 month old interview goes viral amid removal

Laxman Narasimhan became Starbucks CEO in 2023. A year later, the company ousted him, effective immediately. Brian Niccol will step in as the new leader.

Published on: Aug 14, 2024, 06:47:34 IST
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Starbucks announced that it is replacing its current CEO, Laxman Narasimhan. The Seattle-based coffee company said Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol will become the new leader. Expectedly, social media has been abuzz with this announcement. Amid all the posts, there is also a month-old interview of Narasimhan, which is going viral. In the video, he is heard saying he doesn’t work past 6 pm to maintain his work-life balance.

The image shows Laxman Narasimhan, who stepped down from his position as Starbucks CEO. (File Photo)
The image shows Laxman Narasimhan, who stepped down from his position as Starbucks CEO. (File Photo)

Also Read: Social media reacts to Starbucks CEO switch: Laxman Narasimhan out, Brian Niccol in

“Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan recently said that he doesn't work past 6 pm and that if anyone at Starbucks gets a minute of his time after 6 pm they ‘better be sure that it's important’. He was just fired today,” an X user wrote as they shared about the interview.

In an interview with Fortune Magazine, the 57-year-old discussed various subjects. When the interviewer asked about his work-life balance, he said he finishes his work by 6 pm, adding that if he stays beyond that time, it better be “very important.”

Take a look at the X post and the month-old interview here:

Trending on Google:

The former CEO's name has also been trending on Google as people are searching to know more about him. Many are also interested in knowing his salary.

How did social media react?

The X post prompted people to share various comments. An individual wrote, “If you say something like this when the stock price is doing well, you sound like a genius. But if it's not doing well… you get fired.”

Another said, “He’s worth -- $25-50m. I’m sure he’ll be alright. I’d probably take my foot off the gas a little at a point too.” A third expressed, “I wonder if he was sent notice after 6 pm.”

Narasimhan stepped down from the role as CEO “with immediate effect.” He is also no longer a member of the Starbucks board. The new CEO, Niccol, will soon assume this new role. Till then, Starbucks Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Rachel Ruggeri will serve as the interim CEO.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More