CURT GARNER
PRESIDENT/CHIEF STRATEGY AND
TECHNOLOGY OFFICER
CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL
WHY: Runs all things digital and tech for Orange County’s second most valuable publicly traded company. Previously, chief customer and technology officer. Promoted to president and chief strategy and technology officer this year following Jack Hartung’s transition to senior advisor role. Hartung, the former CFO, plans to retire in 2026. Garner’s team drives digital and innovation initiatives, overseeing the company’s gold-standard app, voice-bot ordering, and the testing of robotics equipment that can improve throughput and accuracy.
IN THE NEWS: In 2022, took an investment approach to innovation by creating Cultivate Next, a $50M venture fund for early-stage investments into companies that share Chipotle’s ethos. In 2024, Chipotle doubled funds to $100M with investments. In January, it took a minority investment in Plantible, a company making a sustainable plant-based
protein that behaves like animal protein.
NOTABLE: Came to Chipotle from Starbucks, where he spent nearly 18 years serving in various tech roles, including chief information officer.
QUOTABLE: “Investing in a like-minded venture that strives to transform the global food supply could help the entire industry unlock new opportunities for plant-based menu offerings.”
— Garner on Plantible investment
