By Waylon Cunningham
-Starbucks’ chief know-how officer Deb Corridor Lefevre resigned with out a everlasting alternative, in line with an inside memo despatched to company employees on Monday, seen by Reuters.
The memo, written by Chief Monetary Officer Cathy Smith, named Ningyu Chen, beforehand senior vice chairman of world expertise know-how, as interim chief know-how officer.
Lefevre, a former McDonald’s govt, was employed in Could 2022 as a part of the chain’s give attention to enhancing its drive-through, cellular ordering and different methods. The memo mentioned she deliberate to retire.
“Our tech priorities aren’t altering,” the memo mentioned. “We’re targeted on the tech work wanted to ship our Again to Starbucks plan.”
Lefevre did not reply to a direct request for remark Thursday evening. Starbucks didn’t remark.
The worldwide espresso chain in current months has launched a number of know-how initiatives, together with an AI-powered automated stock counter that’s within the technique of being rolled out to all company-owned shops in North America by the top of September. Different initiatives embrace an AI assistant for baristas and a brand new point-of-sales system.
On Thursday, the corporate mentioned it might shut underperforming shops in the USA. Its total company-owned U.S. and Canada retailer depend is anticipated to drop by 1%, with a number of hundred shops anticipated to shut by the top of the 2025 fiscal 12 months. It additionally mentioned 900 non-retail roles can be eradicated, with affected workers being notified Friday.
The know-how initiatives are a part of a company turnaround referred to as “Again to Starbucks” being pursued by CEO Brian Niccol, who took the helm final 12 months to revive the chain’s fortunes. He has aimed to revive the chain’s “coffeehouse” attraction following six consecutive quarters of gross sales declines.
Shares have misplaced greater than 12% of their worth during the last 12 months, in contrast with a 16% enhance within the broad-market Customary & Poor’s 500 Index.
(Reporting by Waylon CunninghamEditing by Nick Zieminski)
