Sweetgreen adds former Strava, Yum! Brands exec to C-suite
A health-focused fast-casual chain has named a customer experience veteran as its new chief commercial officer.
Sweetgreen appointed Zipporah Allen to the role on Sept. 2, in which she will aim to “sharpen brand positioning and menu, drive demand and deepen overall guest engagement.” Allen most recently served as the chief business officer at digital fitness subscription platform Strava for the past two years. Prior to that role, she served as chief marketing officer for one year.
“Zipporah is a visionary leader with a rare ability to turn ideas into iconic customer experiences and lasting brand love,” said Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen. “Her bold perspective and creative drive make her the ideal partner to help shape Sweetgreen’s next chapter. We’re excited to have her on our team as we expand the reach of real food to more communities across the country.”
Before joining Strava in 2022, Allen served as the first global chief digital officer at Taco Bell for three years, where she led the digital transformation of the brand and revolutionized all aspects of the digital ordering and pickup experience across app, web, kiosk and delivery channels.
Prior to her role at Taco Bell, Allen spent four years at Pizza Hut, serving as the chief marketing officer from January 2018 to April 2019. She had previously spent nine years at McDonald’s in various roles.
[READ MORE: Sweetgreen names new COO]
“I’m thrilled to join Sweetgreen’s mission of connecting people to real food,” said Allen. “I’ve long admired the team at Sweetgreen for their commitment to sustainable sourcing, connection to local farmers and innovative approach to executing the experience through digital channels. I look forward to working alongside the leadership team to continue to grow the brand and business with more customers and communities.”
Founded in 2007, Sweetgreen now operates more than 250 locations across the United States. The chain serves salads and bowls that prioritize organic, regenerative and locally-sourced produce.
