Starbucks names interim human resources director

Starbucks' head of human resources resigned today because of a family illness, and the company named Starbucks director Olden Lee as an interim replacement.

Lee, 67, worked 28 years for PepsiCo, including as senior vice president of human resources for Taco Bell and senior vice president and chief personnel officer of the KFC division. He is also founder and principal of Lee Management Consulting. Lee joined the Starbucks board in 2003.

Starbucks has begun a search for a permanent head of human resources.

Chet Kuchinad was promoted to executive vice president of human resources in January 2008, shortly after Chairman Howard Schultz resumed the CEO job. His annual salary was $400,000.

He was not among Starbucks' most highly paid executives in 2008, according to its most recent proxy filing. Three of the six men on that list — former CEO Jim Donald, former chief financial officer Pete Bocian and former head of global consumer products Gerry Lopez — have departed.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com