News

Chipotle taps Kerry Bridges as food safety leader

February 1, 2019

Chipotle Mexican Grill has hired Kerry Bridges as vice president of food safety to replace James Marsden when he retires in the next few months.

The appointment was confirmed by Chipotle's chief communications officer and did not provide a specific date for Marsden's retirement.

Marsden, a former meat science professor at Kansas State University, was named the executive director of food safety last March, as Fast Casual reported.

Two months later the brand, aiming to rebuild its reputation following several food-safety issues including E coli outbreaks, hired David Acheson, a former official at the Food and Drug Administration, as well as David Theno, a former Jack in the Box executive, in food safety roles.

Marsden led a session, "Chipotle's Food Safety Turnaround and Lessons Learned," at last fall’s Fast Casual Executive Summit.

Bridges, according to her Linked In profile, began the job of vice president for food safety as of January this year. Prior to her post, she served as senior director of supplier food safety for Walmart for four years.