Jim Donald joined Starbucks Coffee Company in October of 2002 as president, North America, working closely with retired CEO, Orin Smith and chairman Howard Schultz. In this position, Donald was responsible for the overall management, business development, and operations of Starbucks in all North American markets. During this period, the company experienced record financial performance, attributable largely to its success in North America.

On October 12, 2004, Donald was promoted to president and served as chief executive officer from 2005 through 2008. As CEO, he was responsible for all Starbucks business operations, supply chain and general administrative functions. Donald also joined the Starbucks board of directors at this time. He is currently the president and CEO of Haggen, a Bellingham, Washington-based grocery chain with 33 stores in the Northwest.

Business strategies good to the last drop. At Starbucks, Donald's influence helped the company enjoy exponential growth and performance as customers continued to embrace the Starbucks Experience. Though the company has grown beyond 15,000 stores in 43 countries, Donald believes that the human connection between customers and baristas accounted for each Starbucks store becoming a neighborhood gathering place. He also continued Starbucks's strong commitment to corporate social responsibility with efforts to develop ethical sourcing practices for products such as coffee and cocoa, fund water projects in developing countries, and reduce the company's environmental footprint.

Supermarketing. Donald began his career in 1971 as a trainee with Publix Super Markets, Inc. Joining Albertson's in 1976, he quickly rose through its managerial ranks in its Florida, Alabama, and Texas divisions and was head of Albertson's operations in Phoenix, Arizona.

Handpicked by Sam Walton in 1991 to build a major presence in the supermarket business for Wal-mart, Donald was a key executive in Wal-mart's development and expansion of the Wal-mart Super Center, supervising all merchandising, distribution, store design, and real estate operations.

Donald served as president and manager of Safeway's 130-store Eastern division from 1994 to 1996. He was responsible for a $2.5 billion business, 10,000 employees comprised of 130 stores and two distribution centers. With a clear vision and inspiring front-line leadership, he was able to reverse a four-year trend in declining same-store sales.

Donald joined Pathmark Stores, Inc. in 1996 as chairman, president and CEO. Pathmark, a $4.6 billion, 143-unit regional supermarket chain is located in the New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.

Recently, Donald was named executive-in-residence for the business program at University of Washington Bothell.