Archive · 22 Dec 2025
Indian-origin Amazon veteran named Starbucks CTO
Anand Varadarajan, who has worked at Amazon for almost 20 years, has been chosen to be the new technology leader at Starbucks.
He has two master's degrees, one in engineering and one in computer science, and is also an alumnus of IIT.
He will start his new job on January 19 and will work directly with the company's CEO.
The person who had this job before him retired a few months ago.
Before joining Amazon, he worked at Oracle and several startups.
Starbucks is expecting him to help modernize their store operations and improve labor efficiency.
Anand Varadarajan, an Indian-origin technology executive, has been appointed as Starbucks' new Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
He holds a master's degree in civil engineering from Purdue University, a master's degree in computer science from the University of Washington, and is an alumnus of IIT.
Varadarajan will start on January 19 and will report directly to Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol.
He succeeds Deb Hall Lefevre, who retired in September, and replaces interim CTO Ningyu Chen.
Varadarajan brings nearly two decades of experience from Amazon, where he led technology and supply chain operations for its worldwide grocery business.
- Who
- Anand Varadarajan, an Indian-origin technology executive
- What
- Appointed as Starbucks' new Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
- When
- Starts on January 19
- Where
- Starbucks, a global coffee chain
- Why
- To lead the company's global technology operations and accelerate technology initiatives
- Name
- Anand Varadarajan
- New Position
- Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at Starbucks
- Education
- Master's in Civil Engineering from Purdue University, Master's in Computer Science from University of Washington, Alumnus of IIT
- Previous Experience
- Nearly two decades at Amazon, worked at Oracle and several startups
- Start Date
- January 19
- Reports To
- CEO Brian Niccol
- Predecessor
- Deb Hall Lefevre
- Interim CTO
- Ningyu Chen
Sources
Who is Anand Varadarajan? Indian-origin Amazon veteran named Starbucks Chief Technology Officer
Starbucks Names Indian-Origin Amazon Veteran Anand Varadarajan As Top Tech Officer
Who Is Anand Varadarajan? Starbucks Appoints Ex-Amazon Executive As New Chief Technology Officer
Indian-origin Amazon veteran Anand Varadarajan named Starbucks CTO
Starbucks appoints Indian-origin tech executive Anand Varadarajan as new CTO
Who is Indian-origin Anand Varadarajan, appointed as new top tech officer at Starbucks?
