Starbucks Reveals Newest CEO Reckitt’s Laxman Narasimhan
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September 9, 2022
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Laxman Narasimhan, a seasoned executive with extensive experience in the consumer products industry, will succeed Howard Schultz as CEO of Starbucks.
Over the course of over 30 years, Narasimhan has led and advised several international consumer-facing companies.
When he joined the consumer goods company Reckitt, it dealt with a cyber attack, a botched product launch, production problems, and a lackluster performance from its core brands. The company’s shareholders were very appreciative of Narasimhan’s three years as CEO, during which the company’s performance returned to levels that were considered to be sustainable.
Mellody Hobson, who chairs the board at Starbucks, also lauded Narasimhan as an “inspiring leader” who will contribute to the company’s expansion. Schultz also said that Narasimhan’s ideas would be fundamental to Starbucks as it builds on its past in this new era of greater well-being.
In the past, Narasimhan has also held executive positions at PepsiCo and McKinsey, in addition to his current role as a trustee at the Brookings Institute in Washington, District of Columbia.
Narasimhan spent her younger years in India, but he came to the United States to earn a master’s degree and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). He is also proficient in three Indian languages English, Spanish, and German. The Indian languages of Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam.
He will now be fully immersed in Starbucks over the next few months as he works and learns the plan that former CEO Schultz put in place during his brief third tenure at Starbucks. During this transitional period, Narasimhan will travel to various stores and factories to monitor the expansion and performance.
In a statement, Narasimhan remarked on how the company’s recent “reinvention” and investments in its partner and customer experiences had positioned it to meet the shifting demands of the present and prepare it for an even brighter future.
Jennifer Chun, Uniformed’s designer, brings a refreshing collaboration of Korean-American heritage and sustainability practices. Her story began during the pandemic, when she discovered traditional natural dyeing techniques. After connecting with experts and artisans, she came to Korea and got directly involved in the dyeing lessons. “I had no idea Korea had its natural dyeing traditions,” Chun shared.
Her collection is a celebratory integration of hand-dyed materials and fabrics from traditional markets to create a sustainable, limited-edition line.
Jennifer Chun blends her Korean heritage into her sustainable fashion line, Uniformed. (Photo credit: Wayn Ohara Reid)
Overcoming the Challenges of Slow Fashion
Amidst the growing world of fast fashion, it is clear that Chun’s main challenge lies in maintaining sustainability while navigating an industry deeply accustomed to mass production and fleeting trends.
Fashion has changed so much that consumers want items faster or cheaper because we have gotten used to mass production. I make such limited quantities that it can be a challenge working with factories that would rather produce en masse and do not want to make specialized pieces that take thought or time, as producing less can increase manufacturing prices. It’s difficult to educate consumers on this when even people in my industry aren’t aware of what goes into the whole process.
During the global lockdown, designer Jennifer Chun found an unexpected bridge to her Korean heritage through a chance encounter with an article on Korea’s natural dyeing traditions—an art form predating the country’s unification.
I came across an article about Korea’s natural dyeing and artisans. I had no idea Korea had its own natural dyeing traditions and techniques that predated the formal unification of Korea. In the article, they interviewed a natural dyer outside of Seoul, and I decided to just email her. My mother was in lockdown, living in LA, and like many senior citizens, the isolation was incredibly difficult. So I asked her to collaborate with me by helping me communicate with the natural dyer.
We all eventually became pen pals. Once travel restrictions were lifted, my husband and I visited my father, who was living in lockdown in Korea. We made arrangements to meet with the natural dyer and visited her indigo farm and studio. She taught me how to cut the indigo and showed me the basic process of her craft. She suggested we collaborate.
The line developed from there, eventually leading to a capsule collection, incorporating fabrics developed in Korea, including hand-dyed materials and fabrics purchased in traditional markets around the country. And constructed into limited edition pieces to ensure sustainability, and designed with a uniform aesthetic, in New York City’s garment district.
Working with Korean artists—who prioritize quality over quantity—has deepened her appreciation for true craftsmanship. ‘There is so much pride in the craft and process. They do not compromise sustainability at any cost, and I had to assure them that I wouldn’t either if we were to collaborate,’ she explains, highlighting Uniformed’s commitment to sustainability.
Jennifer, while in South Korea.
Integrating Heritage into Design
Jennifer is not one to shy away from how her heritage has a profound impact on her design. She takes great pride in how it informs her work, and she has learned to combine these cultural elements more skillfully as she refines her craft. “With Uniformed, I am really proud that I have been able to bring my Korean American heritage into my designs,” she shared. “None of this is easy or formulaic, but it is a new, interesting, and inspired challenge.”
The opportunities to reconnect with her roots, meet local artisans, and learn new techniques have been both humbling and transformative for Jennifer. “It can be a very humbling experience to adopt a new perspective and craft after working in this industry a certain way,” she reflected. “You’re almost starting over and sometimes have to prove yourself, but it’s all been worth it for the new experiences.” This humility and commitment to continuous learning form the foundation of her design philosophy and entrepreneurial values.
Fashion with a Global Vision
Jennifer’s ultimate goal for Uniformed is to collaborate with artisans around the world, incorporating the diverse experiences of Koreans globally. “I want to understand more about Koreans in different parts of the world,” she shared. By blending these cultural perspectives, she aims to create a brand that celebrates the universal appeal of the ‘uniform,’ merging tradition with modernity.
Jennifer Chun’s design (Photo Credit: Kim Jae Min)
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