DENVER — Steve Ells, founder and chief executive officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., has announced the promotion of Monty Moran to co-CEO, along with the addition of Mark Crumpacker as chief marketing officer and Bill Niman as a sustainable agriculture adviser.
Moran has served as Chipotle's president and chief operating officer since March 2005. Prior to joining Chipotle, he served as the company's general counsel and as CEO of the Denver-based law firm Messner & Reeves LLC.
Ells also named Crumpacker as the company's first chief marketing officer. Crumpacker comes to Chipotle from Sequence, a brand consulting firm he co-founded in San Francisco. He also has long-standing ties to Chipotle, having developed the company's original identity system in 1993.
Finally, Niman, founder of Niman Ranch, has been a champion for sustainably raised food since 1971. Niman Ranch has provided naturally raised pork to Chipotle since 2001.
Company looks to Europe
In addition to changes to its management team, Chipotle has announced plans to enter the European market and is actively looking for sites in London. The company expects to open its first London restaurant in late 2009.
"We plan to open one restaurant in London before the end of 2009, find a group of farmers and ranchers who can supply us with the highest quality food, and begin to find a group of top performing managers who can help us establish a very special Chipotle brand in Europe," Ells said.
