Rahul Khona has returned to Starbucks India as Chief Technology Officer, marking a significant comeback to a company where he had earlier played a senior technology and digital innovation role.

Khona previously served at Starbucks India as Chief Information Officer and Head of Digital Innovation from 2013 to 2018. His return brings the journey full circle, a phrase he also used while announcing the move on LinkedIn.

Before rejoining Starbucks India, Khona was Director of Technology, CIO, at Tim Hortons for Southeast Asia, covering Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. His career spans more than 21 years in technology leadership and digital transformation.

Over the years, he has worked with companies across retail, food service, technology and telecom. His previous roles include stints at Nexus Malls, Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, Reliance Brands Limited, Tata Consultancy Services, Tech Mahindra and Reliance Communications.

The appointment comes at a time when consumer-facing brands are placing greater emphasis on technology-led customer experience, digital operations and data-backed retail systems. For Starbucks India, Khona’s return is notable because he already understands the brand’s earlier digital journey in the country and now comes back with wider regional experience from the quick-service restaurant and retail ecosystem.

His new role is expected to place him at the centre of Starbucks India’s technology strategy, especially as café chains continue to depend on digital platforms, loyalty systems, operational efficiency and consumer engagement tools to strengthen growth.

For Khona, the move is not just another leadership appointment. It is a return to familiar ground, but with a larger technology mandate and deeper experience across brands that operate at scale.

Also Read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s Rise Is Bigger Than a Net-Worth Number