Brian Niccol was named Starbucks chairman and CEO on 13 August 2024 and started in the role on 9 September 2024, so his first year runs through early September 2025. (about.starbucks.com) In October 2024, shortly after taking over, he publicly said Starbucks needed to simplify its overly complex menu as part of a turnaround. (theguardian.com) On the Q1 FY2025 earnings call in late January 2025 (about four months into his tenure), he announced a Back to Starbucks plan that included cutting roughly 30% of Starbucks food and beverage items and reducing customization complexity in order to streamline operations and focus on fewer, better offerings. (nypost.com) Subsequent coverage noted that trimming around 30% of the menu was a central plank of his strategy and was already being implemented within his first six months. (cnbc.com) By February–March 2025, Starbucks had begun removing specific items (such as 13 low-performing drinks effective 4 March 2025) under this initiative, a clear reduction in menu breadth and complexity well before September 2025. (nypost.com) Because these concrete menu simplifications occurred within Niccol’s first year as CEO, the prediction that his early tenure would feature a reduction in Starbucks menu complexity is borne out.