Chipotle Mexican Grill has appointed Fernando Machado as its new chief brand officer, with the appointment taking effect on 1 June 2026.

In the new role, Machado will oversee global marketing activities, guide brand direction and manage customer engagement initiatives as the company advances its ‘Recipe for Growth’ strategy, which focuses on increasing competitiveness.

Chipotle Mexican Grill CEO Scott Boatwright said: “We are thrilled to welcome Fernando to Chipotle's leadership team.

"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."

Machado spent more than seven years at Restaurant Brands International (RBI), where he was chief marketing officer working across Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons.

Before that, he spent 18 years at Unilever in multiple senior leadership positions across the group’s consumer brands.

Machado is currently an operating partner at Garnett Station Partners, a private equity company focusing on franchise, multi-unit and services-oriented businesses.

Commenting on the appointment, Machado stated: “Chipotle has built one of the most distinctive and culturally relevant brands in the industry, and I look forward to building on that strong foundation through authentic storytelling, focused product development, and meaningful guest experiences.”

In separate leadership news, Chipotle Mexican Grill has also named Arlie Sisson as chief digital officer.

Sisson will report to president, chief strategy and technology officer Curt Garner.

As of December 2025, Chipotle Mexican Grill had more than 4,000 restaurants in France, Germany, the Middle East, the UK and the US.

The restaurant chain reported a net income of $330.9m in Q4 2025, down slightly from $331.8m a year earlier.