Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol is trading in his usual burrito bowl and quesadilla for cream-topped cold brew and pumpkin spice lattes, after Starbucks’ surprise announcement Tuesday naming Niccol the coffee giant’s new CEO, replacing Laxman Narasimhan.
Catapulting himself from leadership positions at Taco Bell and Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands to Chipotle, Niccol is no stranger to fast food. Since beginning his CEO tenure at Chipotle in 2018, he’s spearheaded the Mexican-inspired chain’s massive turnaround, helping it shed its E. coli crisis and embrace a new identity as a culinary-forward fast-casual empire, even setting the lofty goal of doubling its restaurant count to over 7,000 locations in the U.S.
