Anju Rao

Anju Rao is senior vice president of Global Food Safety, Quality, & Regulatory (GFSQ&R) for Starbucks Coffee Company. In this role, she is responsible for building and renewing food safety and quality capabilities to support growth, customer satisfaction, and loyalty.

Anju has been a Starbucks partner for the past five years, and previously served as vice president, Beverage Innovation, within the company’s Global Product R&D organization. While leading this team, she integrated retail and channel strategic initiatives focused on enterprise priorities, including accelerating both cold beverage innovation and sustainability.

Prior to joining Starbucks, Anju gained two decades of international leadership experience in the food industry, including time at both Campbell Soup Company and Royal FrieslandCampina N.V. She currently serves on the Board of Advisors at the University of Georgia Center for Food Safety.

Anju earned her Ph.D. in Food Technology from Clemson University. She lives in Seattle with her husband and two children and enjoys travel with family. Her favorite Starbucks beverage is a Short Blonde Flat White.