Chipotle founder Steve Ells will act as sole chief executive after Monty Moran, who has shared the role with Ells for the last seven years, stepped down.
The company announced Moran’s departure from his role and the board with immediate effect in a statement yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ells unveiled a new “mission statement” and an evolution of its staff development programme.
Neil Flanzraich, lead director of Chipotle’s board, said: “Steve founded Chipotle more than 23 years ago with a powerful vision to use great ingredients prepared skillfully by hand, but served very fast. This approach has proven to be a very successful formula, but as the company grew, operations became more complicated and less consistent. Given the ongoing challenges facing the company, the board felt strongly that it was best for Steve to resume leadership of the company going forward. This will ensure that his high standards for the guest experience and his unyielding commitment to the company’s mission are top priorities.”
Ells said he would seek to “evolve” the company’s Restaurateur programme, for elite general managers, to “ensure that even more of our best employees succeed and thrive at the company”.
Meanwhile, the new company mission will be to “ensure that better food, prepared from whole, unprocessed ingredients is accessible to everyone”. Chipotle’s previous mission was to “Change the way people think about and eat fast food.”
Ells said: “When I started Chipotle, I knew very little about the way food was raised. But over the years, I’ve become a champion for ingredients that are raised with respect for people, animals, and the environment. I will also continue to advocate for food made simply, without processed ingredients, which is the kind of food I believe should be available to everyone. I’m incredibly proud of the team at Chipotle and I’m thankful to them for helping us realize our mission of bringing better food to more and more people.
“I’d also like to thank Monty for his extraordinary contributions to Chipotle over the years. Monty inspired us with his vision for an enlightened people culture, and I wish him the best as he retires from the company.”
