Staffing

Former Chipotle exec named Sweetgreen COO

Photo: Sweetgreen

April 30, 2025

Sweetgreen has hired Jason Cochran as COO. Effective May, he will oversee Field Operations and Operations Services and Innovation, reporting to co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman.

"Jason is a trusted and visionary leader with hands-on operational experience at growth-oriented brands," Neman said in a company press release. His strategic mindset, operational discipline, and ability to inspire teams make him uniquely positioned to help lead Sweetgreen into its next chapter of growth. Jason's alignment with our mission and cultural fit is clear, and I'm incredibly excited to welcome him to the team as we continue scaling our impact across more communities."

Prior to joining Sweetgreen, Cochran served as CEO and a board member of American West Restaurant Group, the third-largest Pizza Hut franchisee in the U.S., where he led the company through transformational growth and operational improvements across hundreds of locations. Cochran was Valso former VP of Operations Services at Chipotle Mexican Grill, supporting over 3,000 restaurants and $8.6 billion in annual revenue.

"I'm thrilled to join Sweetgreen at such a pivotal moment," Cochran said in the release. "I've long admired the brand's mission, focus on real food, and commitment to operational excellence. I look forward to working alongside this talented team to scale the business, strengthen the culture, and deliver continued value for our customers, team members, and shareholders."

Since opening its first 560-square-foot location in 2007, Sweetgreen has scaled to over 250 locations across the United States.