Starbucks Appoints Pilar Ramos as New Chief Legal Officer, Succeeding Brad Lerman
October 16 - 2025
Coffee Geography Magazine
In a significant executive shift, Starbucks Corporation announced today that Pilar Ramos will take the helm as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, succeeding Brad Lerman who is stepping down after a impactful tenure with the coffee giant.
The transition, expected to be completed by mid-November, marks a key leadership appointment as the company continues to execute its "Back to Starbucks" plan. Ramos will join the Executive Leadership Team and will also serve as an advisor to the Board of Directors, providing counsel on a wide range of strategic and operational matters.
Brad Lerman, who joined Starbucks in 2023, is credited with significantly strengthening the company's global legal and compliance functions. In a statement, the company acknowledged his "meaningful impact" and "steady, thoughtful counsel on important issues." Lerman will remain in his role for the next several weeks to ensure a smooth handover as Ramos begins her onboarding process.
"We want to extend our thanks to Brad for his many contributions to Starbucks and his continued leadership throughout the search for his successor," the company stated.
Pilar Ramos arrives at Starbucks with a distinguished record of leadership in complex, global corporations. She most recently served as EVP, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at TelevisaUnivision, the world's leading Spanish-language media company, where she led the Law, Government Affairs, and Compliance teams. Prior to that, she held several senior positions at Mastercard, culminating in the role of EVP & General Counsel for North America, the company's largest business unit.
Beyond her corporate experience, Ramos is an active member of several prestigious organizations, including The Council on Foreign Relations and The Economic Club of New York. She also serves on the boards of LatinoJustice, The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, and The Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute, underscoring a deep commitment to legal diversity and Hispanic community leadership. She is an alumna of the University of Pennsylvania.
In a personal note, the announcement revealed that Ramos is "known to enjoy her daily grande cappuccino." Her introduction to the Starbucks world will begin with an in-store immersion in Miami later this month before she joins the company's headquarters in Seattle in early November, where she has expressed excitement about exploring the city and its surrounding areas.