That comes shortly after Starbucks tapped more former Taco Bell executives to help overhaul its operations under Niccol. Those leadership changes are part of Niccol's plan to get Starbucks back to the basics, and are aimed at boosting efficiency and streamlining resources. Since taking charge four months ago, Niccol has worked to reverse a streak of declining sales, focusing on cutting unnecessary layers to create a more nimble company. In late Oct. 2024, Starbucks announced that corporate employees had to return to the office three days a week or quit.