CHAIRMAN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL INC.
DAY JOB: Running the $5.6 billion Chipotle enterprise, which has more than 2,600 locations, through a pandemic that forced the chain to implement health and safety practices as it focused on how to leverage takeout and delivery through its digital and brick-and-mortar infrastructures. Capped the first quarter with revenue up 7.8% to $1.4 billion and net income up 5.4% to $76.4 million.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Amped up its efforts to support front-line workers throughout the pandemic. Celebrated National Burrito Day with free burrito boxes sent to healthcare facilities, enlisted consumers’ help with a buy-one-give-one food donation program in April, waived delivery fees for consumers and launched an e-gift card program that sent donations to Direct Relief for PPE and other items for healthcare workers domestically and internationally. Chipotle acted as virtual chaperone for online prom event it sponsored in early May.
NOTABLE: The company’s locations mostly remained open throughout the pandemic, allowing guests to order or pickup mobile orders. Hand sanitizer and PPE became the norm in restaurants. Niccol filmed 2-minute video on company’s website to explain company’s safety efforts, dubbed “The Chipotle Way.”
QUOTABLE: “Investing in digital over the last several years has allowed us to quickly pivot our business with Q1 digital sales reaching our highest ever quarterly level of $372 million. Our strong brand, business model and balance sheet give us the confidence to not only weather this downturn but continue to judiciously invest in key areas so that when we come out the other side, we will emerge even stronger,” Niccol said in April with the company’s delivery of its March quarter results.
FAST FACTS: Niccol, named Businessperson of the Year for 2020 by the Business Journal, stepped into the top spot in 2018 helping reverse a downward slide in the company’s stock. He’s focused on digital efforts, a rewards program, refreshed restaurant designs and improved customer ordering and pick-up processes, such as with the Chipotlanes (Chipotle’s answer to drive-thrus to speed up mobile order pickups).
2020 HOBBIES: “This year has provided me the opportunity to spend more time with my family doing things that we love. Living in Orange County we enjoy spending our time outdoors – from beach days to walks and basketball games, we feel fortunate to call Orange County our home.”
