Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.’s general counsel, Montgomery “Monty” Moran, has become the restaurant chain’s new president and chief operating officer. Moran succeeds Kevin Reddy, who recently became Noodles & Company’s new president and COO.

“Chipotle’s culture is rooted in doing things for the right reasons—from the food we serve to our relationships with employees, customers and suppliers,” says Moran. “There’s a clear sense of direction as to where the company is going …Having the opportunity to direct my time and attention solely to helping Chipotle realize its potential is a challenge I’m really looking forward to.”

“Monty has a great understanding of our business and our culture,” says Ells. “He’s been a trusted adviser to me and our leadership in his role as general counsel. …He’ll play an important role in helping to shape our future.”
Moran holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He obtained a law degree from California’s Pepperdine University in 1988. His legal specialties are litigation and real estate.