Starbucks Taps Amazon Grocery Tech Leader as New CTO in Turnaround Effort

Starbucks recently announced the appointment of Anand Varadarajan, a seasoned Amazon executive, as the new chief technology officer. Varadarajan brings with him extensive expertise in Amazon’s grocery technology and supply chain operations.

With a remarkable 19-year tenure at Amazon, Varadarajan will succeed Deb Hall Lefevre, who retired in September. Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol expressed his confidence in Varadarajan’s capabilities.

The appointment of Varadarajan reflects Starbucks’ commitment to enhancing technology in its stores to streamline order flow and improve service speed. This initiative is part of the broader “Back to Starbucks” strategy introduced by Niccol upon assuming the role of CEO in September 2024.

Additionally, Starbucks highlighted the importance of continuous improvement in marketing, data analytics, and AI tools to retain consumer interest and market share, as stated in the latest 10K filing.

Prior to Varadarajan’s appointment, Ningyu Chen served as Starbucks’ interim CTO following Lefevre’s departure.

Niccol praised Varadarajan’s ability to develop reliable and secure systems, drive operational excellence, and prioritize customer satisfaction. Varadarajan’s expertise spans technology and supply chain management in Amazon’s global grocery business, encompassing brands like Whole Foods Market and Amazon Fresh.

Varadarajan will assume the role of executive vice president and CTO at Starbucks on Jan. 19, reporting directly to Niccol and joining the company’s executive leadership team.

He holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology, Purdue University (civil engineering), and the University of Washington (computer science).

Aside from his professional accomplishments, Varadarajan is an avid marathon runner pursuing completion of all seven World Marathon Majors. He also shares a passion for coffee, often starting his day with a tall latte.