Global coffee chain Starbucks has appointed Indian origin technology executive Anand Varadarajan as its new executive vice president and chief technology officer, placing a seasoned Amazon veteran in charge of the company’s worldwide technology strategy.
According to an official announcement cited by PTI, Varadarajan will take on the role starting January 19. He will join Starbucks’ Executive Leadership Team and report directly to Chief Executive Officer Brian Niccol.
Varadarajan succeeds Deb Hall Lefevre, who retired in September. Following her departure, Ningyu Chen served as interim chief technology officer while the company searched for a permanent replacement.
Starbucks said Varadarajan brings extensive experience in building secure and scalable technology systems that support large-scale operations while keeping customers at the center. His appointment is expected to accelerate investments in digital platforms and backend infrastructure aimed at improving efficiency, supporting employees, and enhancing the in-store experience, areas he previously helped develop at Amazon.
Varadarajan is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He later completed a master’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Washington.
He spent nearly two decades at Amazon, most recently overseeing technology and supply chain operations for the company’s Worldwide Grocery Stores business. Earlier in his career, he also worked at Oracle and several startups, gaining experience across a wide range of technology environments.
Starbucks believes Varadarajan’s appointment will strengthen its digital capabilities and help fast-track its global technology initiatives.
