Chipotle reshuffles senior leadership, merges legal and HR roles

Chipotle Mexican Grill announced a pair of senior leadership changes that took effect immediately on Jan. 12, 2026, consolidating legal and human resources oversight and installing an interim marketing chief. Ilene Eskenazi, the company’s chief human resources officer, was appointed chief legal and human resources officer after Roger Theodoredis transitioned out of his role as chief legal officer and general counsel. Stephanie Perdue, vice president of brand marketing, was named interim chief marketing officer following the departure of Chris Brandt from his roles as president and chief brand officer.

The moves come as Chipotle reiterated its full-year 2025 guidance and said it will continue investing in people and hiring top talent. The company said it has launched an internal and external search for a permanent chief marketing officer, retaining a leading executive search firm to assist the process. Outgoing executives will remain in advisory roles for a limited period to support the transition.

Eskenazi arrives at the combined role with a mix of legal and people operations experience across consumer brands. Her background includes senior positions at Petco Health and Wellness Company, Boardriders, Inc., and Red Bull North America, and earlier legal work at the law firm Skadden, Arps. The consolidation of legal and HR responsibilities centralizes compliance, policy and employee relations beneath a single executive, a structure that can accelerate coordination between legal counsel and workforce programs.

For restaurant workers and managers, the change could shape how the company handles front-line issues from hiring and scheduling to compliance and investigations. Combining legal and HR functions may lead to tighter alignment on policies such as wage and hour practices, safety protocols, and disciplinary procedures, while also influencing how quickly store-level concerns are escalated and resolved. HR teams and field leaders should expect closer collaboration with legal on employment decisions and communications.

On the marketing side, promoting Stephanie Perdue from within signals an emphasis on continuity for brand campaigns and digital initiatives that affect daypart promotions, loyalty offers and regional advertising. The search for a permanent CMO, supported by an executive search firm, leaves open the possibility of a new strategic direction after the interim period, which could impact the cadence of national marketing pushes and menu innovation rollouts that restaurants rely on to drive traffic.

Chipotle operates more than 3,900 restaurants as of Sept. 30, 2025, and highlighted employee and talent-related programs in its announcement. Field managers, crew and corporate talent teams will be watching how the new legal-and-HR arrangement balances risk management with recruiting and retention priorities. As the company completes its executive search and phases the advisory support out, workers should look for internal communications on any policy changes, updates to training, or shifts in hiring priorities that affect store staffing and operations.