Rosalind Brewer is group president and chief operating officer, Starbucks Corporation, effective Oct. 2, 2017. As group president and chief operating officer, Brewer leads the company’s operating businesses across the Americas (Canada, U.S. and Latin America), as well as the global functions of supply chain, product innovation, and store development organizations.
Rosalind also continue to serve on the Starbucks board of directors.
She was most recently president and CEO of Wal-Mart's Sam's Club warehouse retail chain from 2012 to January 2017. She was the first woman and first black person to lead a business unit of Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer.
Previously she was President of the Wal-Mart U.S. east business unit, and was responsible for 1,600 stores spanning from Maine to Puerto Rico. With 550,000 associates and about $100 billion in sales -- a figure that would put her division in the top 20 of the Fortune 500 if it were a standalone company.
In 2010/11, she was named to FORTUNE magazine's list of "50 Most Powerful Women."
Rosalind joined Wal-Mart in 2006 as regional vice president, responsible for operations in Georgia, and was quickly promoted to president of the southeast operating division. She later led the south business unit of Wal-Mart U.S. as executive vice president and president before being appointed to her current role.
Prior to joining Wal-Mart, she worked for Kimberly-Clark Corp., progressing through various positions, starting as a scientist in nonwoven technology and product development before becoming vice president of the global nonwovens sector in 2004. As vice president of the nonwoven fabrics business, Rosalind was responsible for growing sales by more than 30 percent.
She serves on the board of directors for Starbucks, Amazon.com, Lockheed Martin Corporation and has been a director of Molson Coors Brewing Company since 2006, where she serves on the Human Resources/Compensation Committee. Additionally, she serves on the board of trustees for Spelman College and the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
Rosalind earned a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Spelman College. She attended the advanced management program at The Wharton School and graduated from Director's College at the University of Chicago School of Business/Stanford School of Law.
