Next Chipotle CEO May Need to Be Less Gourmet Chef, More McDonald’s Manager
- Founder Steve Ells steps down after food-safety crisis
- ‘You need somebody who understands fast food,’ says analyst
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Nearly 25 years ago, Steve Ells founded Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., infusing it with a culinary cachet that was largely absent in the fast-food industry.
It worked, with Chipotle growing into a powerhouse that drew a generation of customers eschewing traditional restaurant chains like McDonald’s.