Rishi Sunak wants to cut the cost of ‘sicknote’ Britain 
Industry shutdowns are messy and painful: 4 lessons Australia’s coal sector can learn from car-makers about bowing out 
China’s new world order: looking for clues from Xi’s recent meetings with foreign leaders 
New EU trade rules could put poor countries in a billion dollar ‘green squeeze’ 
Samsung's Lee Jae-Yong Forges Strategic AI Chip Production Alliance With ZEISS 
What if the Reserve Bank itself has been feeding inflation? An economist explains 
Aramco Becomes FIFA’s 6th Global Partner Joining Adidas, Coca-Cola, Qatar Airways, Hyundai, and Visa 
The yen plunges to 34-year low despite interest rate hike 
Tesla Cybertruck Spotted in Sydney Sparks Debate: Potential Australian Release? 
Hertz to Offload 30K EVs This Year, Deepens Cuts Amid Mounting Fleet Losses 
Samsung Galaxy S24 FE Details Leak: Model Numbers, Name Uncovered 
Domino's Launches Innovative 'You Tip, We Tip' Promotion 
DJI Faces Possible US Ban by Congress, Echoing Concerns Over TikTok and China 
‘They don’t have enough’ – schools in England are running food banks for families 
Starbucks revealed it has recruited a new chief technology officer to manage tech under the leadership of returning chief executive officer, Howard Schultz. The coffee chain company hired a former McDonald’s executive to assist the CEO with his plans to impose changes in Starbucks’ mobile app, drive-thrus, and other in-house tech systems.
According to Reuters, Starbucks hired Deb Hall Lefevre as CTO, and she will officially join the company on May 2. She will be replacing Hans Melotte, who was appointed as interim CTO for five months.
Chas Hermann, a consultant and former Starbucks vice president of marketing, said that hiring a CTO who has experience in retail and restaurants will make sure that digital transactions in the company will run smoothly. He said that this process has become especially important at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic as customers chose to buy and order via mobile apps and use payment systems to settle their bills.
Hermann added that CEO Schultz "wants to have someone that can really run the engine in the car, thus they hired Lefevre for the executive tech post. He added that while there is a CTO, “the driver in the seat will be Howard."
The company’s spokesperson said that some of the changes that are expected to be implemented with the modification include customization in Starbucks’ customers’ mobile app, systems for staff training, scheduling, and equipment maintenance so baristas can spend more time with customers.
It was previously reported that baristas experience burnout at work as a deluge of mobile orders come in, so the improvements on equipment will help them ease up the workload. Schultz is also planning to enhance employee benefits and subdue the increasing union organizing efforts at Starbucks locations.
Meanwhile, Schultz, who is also Starbucks’ founder, returned to the company as CEO earlier this month. He will also be a director on the chain’s Board. Through a letter, he announced his return and listed his vision for the future of the company and everyone working there.
“I am returning to the company to work with all of you to design our next Starbucks - an evolution of our company deep with purpose, where we each have agency and where we work together to create a positive impact in the world,” part of his letter reads.
