has named a new chief marketing officer less than a week after the man who held that role for nine years departed the company.
Chris Brandt will officially assume the top public image post with the Denver-based fast casual restaurant chain April 2.
Most recently working as executive at , Brandt has two decades of industry experience.
Previously, Brandt spent three years as the chief brand and marketing officer of Yum Brands’ Taco Bell business, , a job he took over from Brian Niccol. Niccol was named CEO of Chipotle in February, and will now be Brandt’s direct boss. While at Taco Bell, Brandt oversaw the launch of Doritos Locos Tacos and the company’s mobile app.
“Having worked with Chris in the past, I have seen first-hand his ability to generate sales overnight and build brands over time,” Niccol said in a news release Tuesday.
Brandt replaces Mark Crumpacker, who left Chipotle Thursday after struggling to rebuild its public image amid a rash of foodborne illness issues at some of its restaurants dating back to 2015. He had been with the company since 2009. He was kept on after a cocaine arrest in 2016.
