Chipotle’s President and Chief Brand Officer Chris Brandt is stepping down, effective immediately, the company said Monday.
The move comes amid an effort to ramp up marketing for the fast-casual brand with the goal of driving traffic.
It also comes less than a year after Brandt, who has been leading Chipotle’s marketing team for nearly eight years as chief brand officer, added the title president to his role after former president and chief strategy officer Jack Hartung retired last year.
Chipotle said Brandt will remain with the company in an advisory role for a limited period to assist with the transition.
Stephanie Perdue, the chain’s vice president of brand marketing, will serve as interim chief marketing officer, succeeding Brandt, the company said, and a search will be held for a permanent replacement.
In addition, Ilene Eskenazi, Chipotle’s chief human resources officer, has added the role of chief legal officer, replacing Roger Theodoredis, who is also exiting the company.
CEO Scott Boatwright thanked Brandt and Theodoredis for their leadership and contributions, but he did not give a reason for their departures.
Brandt “has been instrumental in helping Chipotle become a purpose-driven lifestyle brand, making it more visible, accessible and culturally relevant for consumers,” Boatwright said in a statement.
Chipotle had a rough 2025 after same-store sales fell in the first quarter for the first time since the pandemic, and things got worse from there. The chain downgraded expectations several times last year as consumers pulled back on dining out.
Boatwright on Monday said Chipotle is reiterating its full-year guidance for 2025 issued in October, saying same-store sales are expected to decrease in the low-single-digit range.
That’s despite stepped-up marketing activity, which on Monday included the offer of free-double protein on bowls and salads on Tuesday —purportedly a popular workout day—for orders made through the app.
Chipotle also recently debuted a high-protein menu, featuring a cup of chicken chunks as a snack.
Over the years, Brandt’s marketing team has successfully tapped popular social media influencers, athletes and other trending brands in collaborations, from reviewer Keith Lee to the more recent luggage brand Béis.
Chipotle was recently named the official Mexican restaurant of the PGA Tour, for example. And the chain has pioneered moves into the gaming world, with partnerships with Roblox and other platforms.
Chipotle has also been promoting menu innovation, like the Adobo Ranch sauce launched last year, which was the first new dip in five years, and the more recent Red Chimichurri.
The company is also testing a catering pilot in Chicago, which is expected to be rolled out this year with a big marketing push behind it, Boatwright said in the third-quarter earnings call in October.
Fundamentally, however, Chipotle needs to work on better communicating value, Boatwright said.
“Despite our extraordinary value proposition, we are seeing examples where this is not reflected in consumer perception,” he said at the time. “We are planning to launch a new creative campaign that spotlights what sets Chipotle apart, including clean ingredients, freshly prepped in restaurants each day, using classic culinary techniques, served in abundance at a speed and price point you can’t get anywhere else."
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