Starbucks' CEO transition unlikely to stymie growth: analysts

Starbucks Corp said on Thursday that Schultz would step down as CEO on April 3 to focus on new high-end coffee shops, handing the top job to Chief Operating Officer Johnson, a long-time technology executive. "Howard can't be in that position forever," Morningstar analyst R.J. Hottovy told Reuters. Johnson worked with Schultz for nearly two years and has been on Starbucks' board since 2009.