Scott Boatwright Named Permanent CEO as Chipotle Eyes Sustained Growth

Chipotle has officially appointed Scott Boatwright as its permanent CEO, according to a Monday press release. Boatwright, who had served as interim CEO since August following Brian Niccol’s move to Starbucks, steps into the role after a tenure as chief operating officer, a position he held since 2017. Before joining Chipotle, he spent 18 years with Arby’s Restaurant Group, where he held several senior roles, eventually serving as senior vice president of operations.

Scott Maw, chairman of Chipotle’s board, stated that a thorough external search reinforced the board’s belief that Boatwright was the ideal choice to lead Chipotle’s next phase of growth.

Under Boatwright’s leadership, Chipotle is expected to stay the course strategically, focusing on operational efficiency—a key factor in Chipotle’s steady same-store sales growth despite industry-wide challenges. Boatwright, a strong advocate for operational enhancements, has championed the rollout of Chipotlanes in many new locations and has advanced the integration of technology throughout the company’s operations. His efforts to align culture with company values and boost labor retention have led to improved outcomes across the chain, the company noted.

Maw affirmed the board’s confidence in Boatwright’s ability to execute Chipotle’s core strategies and position the brand for ongoing success.

Expanding labor productivity through technology remains a top priority for Chipotle. During the fourth quarter, the chain began utilizing AI-driven labor scheduling and introduced automation tools, including in-store testing of Hyphen’s automated “makeline” and Vebu’s Autocado, a device that peels, cores, and slices avocados. The chain is also adding “expeditors”—staff positioned between salsa and cashier stations—to enhance peak-hour throughput. Additionally, Chipotle is piloting a produce slicer to streamline ingredient preparation and is introducing dual-sided grills to reduce cooking times and ensure consistency across locations.

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