Chipotle appoints Fernando Machado as Chief Brand Officer, effective June 1
Machado currently serves as an Operating Partner at Garnett Station Partners
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Published: Apr 29, 2026 12:16 PM | 2 min read
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- Chipotle Mexican Grill has appointed Fernando Machado as Chief Brand Officer, effective June 1, responsible for global marketing strategy and brand positioning.
- Machado has over seven years of experience as Chief Marketing Officer at Restaurant Brands International and has held senior roles at Unilever and Activision Blizzard.
- Arlie Sisson has been appointed as Chief Digital Officer, focusing on advancing Chipotle's digital strategy and enhancing guest experiences.
- Both executives bring extensive experience from their previous roles, with a focus on innovation, customer engagement, and operational excellence.
Chipotle Mexican Grill has appointed Fernando Machado as Chief Brand Officer, effective June 1. In this role, he will be responsible for overseeing the company’s global marketing strategy, brand positioning and customer engagement.
Machado spent more than seven years as Chief Marketing Officer at Restaurant Brands International (RBI), where he worked across brands including Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons. He also spent 18 years at Unilever in senior leadership roles across its consumer brand portfolio.
"We are thrilled to welcome Fernando to Chipotle's leadership team," said Scott Boatwright, Chief Executive Officer. "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 added, "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."
Before joining Hyatt, Sisson was the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UpPurpose, a privately funded software-as-a-service (SaaS) company she built from the ground up. Prior to that, she held senior leadership roles at Condé Nast and Marriott (Starwood) Hotels.
Garner stated: "Sisson is a proven leader with a deep understanding of how technology can elevate both the guest and team member experience. In this 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."
"I'm thrilled to join Chipotle at such a dynamic moment in its journey," added Sisson. "The brand's commitment to real ingredients, operational excellence, and a differentiated guest experience creates a powerful foundation for continued digital advancement. I look forward to partnering with our teams to introduce new solutions that drive long-term growth."
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