
Starbucks CTO Deb Hall Lefevre Resigns, No Successor Named
Starbucks has appointed Ningyu Chen, Senior Vice President of Global Experience Technology, as interim Chief Technology Officer (CTO), according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.
The memo, written by Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Cathy Smith, confirmed that Chen will step into the role following the resignation of Deb Hall Lefevre, who has decided to leave the company without a permanent successor in place.
Chen is a global technology leader with extensive experience in retail, hospitality, and travel. Currently serving as Starbucks’ global head of digital, marketing, retail, data, and AI technology, he oversees the company’s strategy and execution to strengthen customer experience and advance its data- and AI-first transformation. Previously, he held leadership roles at Inspire Brands, Macy’s, and Delta Air Lines. He holds a master’s degree in artificial intelligence from the University of Georgia.