Chipotle names Starbucks’ Curt Garner CIO

Chipotle Mexican Grill said Monday that it has brought on Starbucks’ Chief Information Officer Curt Garner as its first CIO, effective Nov. 23.

Garner, who had worked in Starbucks’ information-technology division for nearly two decades, helped the coffee giant develop the necessary infrastructure to embark on its wide variety of tech-driven initiatives, Chipotle said.

“We are changing the way people think about and eat fast food,” said Chipotle co-CEO Steve Ells. “Inherent in that vision is our quest to provide the very best restaurant experience we can. As we look for ways to create efficiencies in our restaurants and improve the customer experience through the strategic use of technology, Curt’s experience and expertise make him an ideal and welcome addition to our management team.”

Garner will be replaced at Starbucks by former Adobe CIO Gerri Martin-Flickinger, who was last week named the coffee giant’s first chief technology officer.

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