Starbucks named Amazon exec Anand Varadarajan as its new chief technology officer, tapping a leader with extensive experience in Amazon’s grocery technology and supply chain operations.
Varadarajan, a 19-year Amazon veteran, will succeed Deb Hall Lefevre, who retired in September, according to the announcement Friday by Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol.
It comes as Starbucks works to revamp technology in its stores to improve order flow and speed of service. It’s part of the “Back to Starbucks” turnaround effort Niccol launched after becoming CEO in September 2024.
Separately, Starbucks said in its latest 10K filing that it needs to keep improving its marketing, data analytics, and AI tools or risk losing consumer interest and market share.
Ningyu Chen had been serving as Starbucks’ interim CTO since Lefevre’s departure.
Varadarajan “knows how to create systems that are reliable and secure, drive operational excellence and scale solutions that keep customers at the center,” Niccol wrote in the memo, also praising him for caring “deeply about supporting and developing the people behind the scenes that build and enable the technology we use.”
At Amazon, Varadarajan most recently led technology and supply chain for the company’s worldwide grocery business, including Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh. He previously held software engineering roles at Oracle and several startups.
Varadarajan will join the coffee giant as executive vice president and CTO on Jan. 19, reporting directly to Niccol and joining the company’s executive leadership team.
He holds an undergraduate degree from the Indian Institute of Technology and master’s degrees from Purdue (civil engineering) and the University of Washington (computer science).
Niccol noted in the memo that Varadarajan is a marathon runner working toward completing all seven World Marathon Majors, and a coffee enthusiast who starts most days with a tall latte.
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