Hall Lefevre’s decision to retire comes after leading technology and digital transformation at renowned brands such as Starbucks, Circle K/Couche Tard, and McDonald’s. She expressed her excitement for the next phase of her life, which includes spending more time with family, continuing her tech and board work, and supporting emerging leaders in shaping the future.
Having joined Starbucks in 2022 as an Executive Vice President, Hall Lefevre brought a wealth of experience from her previous roles at McDonald’s and Circle K Stores. Her departure has led to Ningyu Chen, the former Senior Vice President of Global Experience Technology, stepping in as the interim Chief Technology Officer at Starbucks.
Amidst strategic changes at Starbucks, including layoffs and store closures, the company is undergoing a technology overhaul under the leadership of CEO Brian Niccol. The focus on technology enhancements is part of Starbucks’ efforts to revitalize its sales performance in a challenging market.
In other tech industry news, Lindo St. Angel, the Vice President of Hardware at Amazon’s Lab126 devices group, is set to leave the company by the end of the month. St. Angel, who joined Lab126 in 2010, played a pivotal role in developing Amazon devices such as the Kindle Fire, Fire TV, and Amazon Echo.
Meanwhile, Mark Jewett has joined Komodo Health, a New York City-based health data company, as the Chief Marketing Officer. With a background in leadership roles at Informatica, SmartRecruiters, and Tableau, Jewett brings a wealth of experience to his new position at Komodo Health, which reached a valuation of $3.3 billion in 2021.
Oracle Cloud Infrastructure welcomed Nancy Mounir as the Vice President leading security programs and platforms. With over 12 years of experience at Microsoft, Mounir’s expertise in security initiatives is expected to drive innovation and growth within Oracle’s Security Platform team.
Priya Vaidyanathan has assumed a new role at Microsoft as the Director of Product and Design for Microsoft’s AI skilling platform. Vaidyanathan’s return to Microsoft in 2020 showcases her commitment to empowering individuals worldwide to enhance their skills and adapt to the evolving landscape of AI technology.
Jim Chi has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Oregon Startup Center, overseeing its relaunch and bringing his extensive experience in product management leadership to the role. Additionally, Chi serves as the President of Oregon Sports Angels, further contributing to the startup ecosystem in Oregon.