Restaurant India News: Starbucks India Reappoints Rahul Khona as Chief Technology Officer

Starbucks India has appointed Rahul Khona as its new Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Khona returns to the company after previously serving as Chief Information Officer and Head of Digital Innovation, making the transition what he described as a “full circle” moment in his professional journey.

Before rejoining Starbucks India, Khona was serving as Director of Technology (CIO) for Tim Hortons in the Southeast Asia market. He also played a key role in driving technology initiatives at Zudio, one of India’s fastest-growing fashion retail chains.

With close to two decades of experience spanning retail and enterprise technology, Khona has built expertise in digital transformation, omnichannel operations, and customer-facing technology systems. His experience includes improving e-commerce infrastructure, strengthening loyalty ecosystems, and upgrading supply chain technology for large-scale retail businesses.

Industry observers see the appointment as strategically important for Starbucks India as the café sector increasingly depends on technology-led customer engagement, app-based ordering, loyalty integrations, and operational efficiency. Khona’s earlier stint with the company gave him exposure to Starbucks’ global technology framework and its localization for the Indian market, positioning him to lead future digital expansion initiatives.

The move also reflects the growing focus among hospitality and café brands on building stronger in-house technology leadership as competition intensifies across delivery, loyalty retention, and digital customer experience.