Starbucks CTO Deb Hall Lefevre steps down amid tech revamp

Global coffeehouse chain company, Starbucks' Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Deb Hall Lefevre, resigned without a permanent replacement, reported the news agency Reuters on Friday, 26 September 2025, citing an internal memo which was shared across employees on Monday.

According to the agency report, Starbucks' Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Cathy Smith, in the memo, disclosed that Ningyu Chen, who was previously senior vice president of global experience technology, will now act as the interim CTO.

Deb Hall Lefevre's resignation comes right after the coffee company announced its second round of layoffs in corporate roles effective Friday, 26 September 2025. Starbucks is currently pushing for technological innovations in its stores to make them more labour-efficient, part of its turnaround strategy to revive flagging sales after six consecutive quarters of decline.

Lefevre, a former McDonald's CEO, was hired by Starbucks in May 2022, as the brand focused on improving its drive-through, mobile ordering, and other systems. According to the agency report, the memo said that she planned to retire.

AI to revamp Starbucks

Starbucks' artificial intelligence (AI) revamp includes an AI-powered automated inventory counter, which will soon be rolled out to all of its stores in North America by the end of September 2025.

According to the agency report, other AI initiatives will include an AI assistant for baristas, a new point-of-sales system, and a queuing algorithm which aims to help baristas sequence orders during busy hours.

“Our tech priorities aren't changing,” the memo said. “We're focused on the tech work needed to deliver our Back to Starbucks plan.”

Deb Hall Lefevre did not respond to the queries sent by the news agency, as per the report.

Starbucks shuts stores

On Thursday, Starbucks also disclosed that the company will close its underperforming stores in the United States. As per the agency report, the coffee brand's U.S. and Canada store count is expected to drop by 1% with several hundred stores expected to close by the end of the financial year 2025.

The company also said that 900 non-retail roles will be laid off, with the employees being notified by Friday.

Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol-led technology initiatives are part of a corporate turnaround called “Back to Starbucks,” which took over the company last year as the six consecutive quarters of sales declines.

According to an ABC10 report, the company is expected to close 18,300 North American locations by the end of the current fiscal year. The company, as of 29 June 2025, has 18,734 locations.

Alabama — Vestavia Hills, Eufaula, Montgomery, Mobile.

Arkansas — Paragould, Jonesboro, North Little Rock, North Little Rock (E Broadway St.)

Arizona — Tempe, Tucson (E Speedway Blvd., E University Blvd., N Campbell Ave., E Congress St., S 6th Ave., E 22nd St.)

California — Danville (Crow Canyon Road, Hartz Ave), Davis, Hemet, El Cajon, Hollywood, Northridge, Sacramento (Natomas Crossing Drive Sacramento, Arden Way, Fulton Ave), San Francisco, San Ramon, Los Angeles (Central Avenue Office Depot Center, N Vignes St, South Flower Street, S. Santa Fe Ave, S Broadway, West 9th Street, W. Sunset Blvd., Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Blvd, Sunset Blvd., National Blvd, S La Cienega BlvdLos, S Sepulveda Blvd, Washington Blvd Culver City, Sepulveda Blvd Culver City, S La Cienega Blvd Beverly Hills, Ocean Park Blvd Santa Monica).

Colorado — Fort Collins (S. College Avenue, W. Laurel), Denver (Broadway, Sixteenth St., Platte St., E. Hampden Ave., Peoria St., S. Parker Rd., S Potomac St., S Broadway).

Connecticut — Newington, Danbury.

Delaware — Rehoboth Beach.

Florida — Orlando (N Semoran Blvd, N Alafaya Trl., N Semoran Blvd.), Miami Beach (Lincoln Rd., NE 163rd St., Biscayne Blvd.), Saint Petersburg.

Georgia — Atlanta.

Illinois — Chicago (N Milwaukee Ave, W Fullerton Ave, N. Clybourn, S Halsted St).

Iowa — Le Claire, Clinton.

Kansas — New Orleans (Maple St, Earth & Fire, Magazine St, Elysian).

Maryland — Connecticut Ave., Gramercy Blvd.

Massachusetts — Boston, Cambridge (JFK St., Massachusetts Ave Cambridge, First St Cambridge), Somerville.

Minnesota — Minneapolis (S. 6th Street, Hennepin Ave, Nicollet Ave, S. 7th St), Roseville, St. Paul.

New York — Chappaqua.

Oklahoma — Elk City.

Oregon — Ashland, Coos Bay, Eugene, Grants Pass, Medford (W Main St., Delta Waters Rd, W Main St), Portland (SW 5th Ave, SW 6th Ave, W Burnside St, E Burnside St, SW Capitol Highway), Springfield, Tillamook, and Wood Village.

Pennsylvania — Pittsburgh (E Carson St, Butler St), Lancaster.

South Carolina — Hilton Head

Texas — Houston (Smith St., Studemont St., Montrose Blvd., Memorial Drive, Buffalo Speedway, College Station.

Virginia — Richmond

Washington — Edmonds, Lynnwood, Seattle (Capitol Hill Reserve Roastery, Starbucks Reserve Store), Vancouver.

Washington D.C. — Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, New York Ave NW, 8th St SE, 11th St NW, M St NW, K Street Northwest Washington Harbour, U St NW, Columbia Rd NW, L St, and Georgia Ave NW.