Chipotle names new brand, digital chiefs
Chipotle Mexican Grill is adding two new faces to its C-suite.
The fast-casual Mexican chain has named veteran marketer Fernando Machado as chief brand officer, effective June 1. He will lead Chipotle's global marketing strategy, brand positioning and customer engagement efforts.
Machado currently serves as an operating partner at Garnett Station Partners, a private equity firm focused on franchise, multi-unit and services businesses. He previously spent more than seven years as the chief marketing officer at Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons.
Following his time at RBI, Machado was chief marketing officer at video game giant Activision Blizzard for two years. Prior to RBI, Machado spent 18 years at Unilever in a series of executive leadership roles across its consumer brand portfolio.
"We are thrilled to welcome Fernando to Chipotle's leadership team," said CEO Scott Boatwright, who has led the company since late 2024. "His proven track record in building iconic brands, driving category-defining innovation, and leading customer-centric marketing strategies positions him to elevate our brand, deepen guest loyalty, highlight the value of our real food, and accelerate our long-term growth."
Chief Digital Officer
To accelerate its approach to technology and innovation, Chipotle named Arline Sisson as chief digital officer. Most recently, she served as senior VP and global head of digital, commercial services at Hyatt Hotels, where she led a global organization across product, design, engineering, loyalty, analytics, digital strategy and more.
Before Hyatt, Sisson was the founder and CEO of UpPurpose, a privately-funded, software-as-a-service (SaaS) company. She has also held senior leadership roles at Condé Nast and Marriott (Starwood) Hotels.
"Sisson is a proven leader with a deep understanding of how technology can elevate both the guest and team member experience,” said Curt Garner, president and chief strategy and technology officer at Chipotle. “In his newly-established role, she will help advance our digital strategy, grow loyalty, strengthen how we operate across our restaurants, and unlock new opportunities to innovate at scale. Sisson's leadership will be instrumental as we continue to evolve our capabilities, drive greater efficiency, and deliver best-in-class technology that supports our teams and enhances every interaction with our brand."
[READ MORE: Chipotle reboots loyalty program for app experience, rewards frequency]
Chipotle operates over 4,000 restaurants as of Dec. 31, 2025, in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Middle East. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants in North America and Europe.
