Sweetgreen appoints Cindy Olsen as chief strategy officer to drive growth plan
Cindy Olsen takes on the newly created role of senior vice-president and chief strategy officer, reporting directly to CEO Jonathan Neman as the company advances its Sweet Growth Transformation Plan.
US fast-casual salad chain Sweetgreen has appointed Cindy Olsen as its new senior vice-president and chief strategy officer, effective immediately. The role is a newly created position within the executive team, with Olsen tasked to lead corporate strategy, strategic communications, finance, and operations.
Olsen joins the Sacramento-based company from Chipotle Mexican Grill, where she previously headed investor relations and strategy. In her previous capacity, she worked closely with the executive team on long-term strategy and value creation, experience that Sweetgreen CEO Jonathan Neman cited as critical for the company’s current phase of transformation.
In her new capacity, Olsen will report directly to CEO Jonathan Neman. She stated she is thrilled to join the company’s mission of connecting people to real food and sees a significant opportunity to increase enterprise value. Her focus will be on accelerating the transformation plan by driving near-term execution while building long-term profitable growth.
Neman described Olsen as a disciplined strategic decision-maker with deep consumer and restaurant industry experience. He noted her track record of bringing rigour to investment decisions, calling her the perfect addition to the executive team at this juncture in the company’s Sweet Growth Transformation Plan. The appointment aims to link the company’s strategic priorities into long-term value creation.
Sweetgreen currently operates more than 285 locations across the United States. The company recently expanded its footprint in December 2025 by opening its maiden restaurant venue in Sacramento, California. This appointment marks a significant leadership shift as the chain seeks to consolidate its market position and drive financial performance through its established growth framework.
This report was originally created and published by Verdict Food Service, a GlobalData owned brand. The information is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
