Rahul Khona has rejoined Starbucks India as Chief Technology Officer (CTO), marking a return to the company after nearly seven years.
Khona previously served as Chief Information Officer and Head of Digital Innovation at Starbucks India between 2013 and 2018, where he played a key role in driving the brand’s technology and digital transformation initiatives during a crucial growth phase.
Announcing his return through a LinkedIn post, Khona described the move as a “full circle” moment in his professional journey.
With over 21 years of experience across technology leadership, digital transformation and enterprise innovation, Khona brings extensive expertise in building customer-centric technology ecosystems for consumer-facing brands.
Before rejoining Starbucks India, he was serving as Director of Technology (CIO) at Tim Hortons for the Southeast Asia region, overseeing technology operations across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. During his tenure, he worked on strengthening digital infrastructure, operational technology and customer experience platforms for the QSR chain’s expanding regional presence.
Over the course of his career, Khona has held leadership roles across several prominent organisations including Nexus Malls, McDonald’s India (West & South) – Hardcastle Restaurants, Reliance Brands Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra and Reliance Communications.
Khona’s return comes at a time when Starbucks India continues to expand its retail footprint and strengthen its digital-first customer engagement strategy across ordering, loyalty, payments and omnichannel experiences.
The appointment is expected to further accelerate the company’s technology and innovation roadmap as the premium coffee chain deepens its presence in India’s rapidly growing café and lifestyle market.