Keith Kinsey, president and chief operating officer of Broomfield-based Noodles & Company, is leaving the fast-casual restaurant chain July 1 to head , the companies announced Monday.
Kinsey joined in 2005 as chief financial officer. He became COO in 2007 and a member of the board of directors in 2008, and became company president in 2012.
Kinsey’s duties at Noodles will be reallocated to other members of the management team, according to the company.
At Oak Brook, Ill.-based Portillo’s, Kinsey will be only the second CEO of the Chicago-style hot dog, sandwich and burger chain. He succeeds founder Dick Portillo, who started the company in 1963 and grew it to more than 40 locations. Portillo’s also ships hot dogs and sandwiches to customers across the U.S.
Portillo sold his Portillo Restaurant Group, which includes Portillo’s and Barnelli’s Pasta Bowl, to Berkshire Partners for last year.
Crediting Kinsey with playing an instrumental role in Noodles’ expansion to more than 400 restaurants nationwide, Berkshire Partners officials said they hope Kinsey can help lead further growth at Portillo’s.
