IGS National Advisory Council
VIVEK VARMA
Vivek Varma is Senior Vice President for Public Affairs at Starbucks Coffee Company, based in Seattle. Prior to coming to Starbucks, Mr. Varma was general manager of Communications and Public Relations for the Platforms and Services Division of Microsoft and was responsible for public relations, executive communications, consumer outreach, and employee communication across the Windows, Online Services, and Online Advertising businesses.
Prior to joining this division of Microsoft, Mr. Varma served as Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Relations in Microsoft's Corporate Marketing Group. From 2003-2006, Mr. Varma was responsible for corporate communications around Microsoft's global cross-company initiatives related to image, policy and business marketing. From 2000-2003, he was a Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, responsible for Legal and Public Affairs Issues Management, policy communications and as a spokesperson for the company. Prior to that, he served as Corporate Attorney/Policy and Communications Counsel in the Law and Corporate Affairs department at Microsoft, where he was a member of the Microsoft team defending the company in the Department of Justice antitrust case and building its global government affairs program.
Prior to joining Microsoft in April 1996, Mr. Varma was the Executive Director of the Campaign for America Project, a Washington D.C. based non-profit organization focused on campaign finance reform. From 1994-1995, Mr. Varma served as Policy Counsel for the Democratic Caucus of the House of Representatives. He began his career on Capitol Hill in 1988 working for the late Congressman Mike Synar, Democrat from Oklahoma. Mr. Varma served a variety of staff and legislative roles for Congressman Synar, including serving as his Chief of Staff in the 103rd Congress.
Mr. Varma grew up in Chickasha, Oklahoma and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Swarthmore College and a law degree from the American University Washington College of Law. Varma resides in the Queen Anne neighborhood of Seattle with his wife Laura.
