Starbucks Reconsiders CEO Travel Amid Rising Security Concerns

Starbucks has changed its rules governing executive travel, citing security concerns as the reason behind a major policy shift involving its chief executive.

The company confirmed it has removed a $250,000 annual cap on CEO Brian Niccol’s personal use of the company jet after an independent security review recommended enhanced protection measures.

According to Starbucks, the review concluded that Niccol should use private aviation for all air travel — including personal, commuting, and business trips — due to heightened media exposure and what the company described as “credible threat actors.”

Niccol regularly travels nearly 1,000 miles between his family home in Newport Beach, California, and Starbucks’ headquarters in Seattle, a commute that had previously drawn criticism.

The revised policy replaces the annual spending cap with a quarterly review of Niccol’s jet use, allowing the board to reassess security needs on an ongoing basis. Starbucks said the decision reflects a broader reassessment of executive safety across U.S. corporations, particularly after the fatal shooting of a health insurance executive last year.

The move has reignited debate around corporate responsibility, executive compensation, and sustainability, especially given Starbucks’ public commitments to environmental goals.

Company filings show Niccol received nearly $31 million in compensation in 2025, alongside more than $1 million in security-related expenses.

Starbucks emphasized that the policy change is driven by safety considerations rather than convenience.