Howard Schultz steps down as CEO of the coffee chain Starbucks fueling speculation that he will mount a presidential run in 2020.
Schultz’s departure from the chain comes after years of rumors of the businessman’s political aspirations — something Schultz acknowledged in an interview with The New York Times.
“One of the things I want to do in my next chapter is to figure out if there is a role I can play in giving back,” he told The Times. “I’m not exactly sure what that means yet.”
When The Times asked Schultz directly about a presidential run, he said: “I intend to think about a range of options, and that could include public service. But I’m a long way from making any decisions about the future.”