Starbucks has confirmed that it will eliminate 61 tech positions at its Seattle headquarters as part of a reorganization within its technology department. The layoffs are scheduled to occur between June 20 and August 28, affecting various roles including cybersecurity analysts and systems administrators.
This decision follows the appointment of Anand Varadarajan as the new chief technology officer in January, who previously worked at Amazon for nearly two decades. Under the leadership of CEO Brian Niccol, Starbucks has initiated several technology projects aimed at enhancing customer engagement.
The company had earlier disclosed plans for job reductions in April, but specific numbers and job titles were not included in the initial reports. Additionally, a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission indicated a need for continued improvement in marketing and AI capabilities to maintain market share.
This development reflects broader trends in the tech industry, where many companies, including Amazon and Microsoft, have also announced layoffs, citing similar reasons for workforce reductions.