Chipotle adds former KFC Global CEO to board

Chipotle Mexican Grill has added former KFC Global Chief Executive Officer Sabir Sami to its board of directors, effective immediately.

Sami brings more than 30 years of global consumer and restaurant industry experience, including 16 years at KFC parent Yum Brands Inc., where he held a series of senior leadership roles across KFC, Taco Bell, and Habit Burger & Grill. He served as KFC CEO from January 2022 to February 2025, reporting to Yum CEO David Gibbs while overseeing the KFC system’s more than 34,000 restaurants in over 150 countries.

Previously, he served as KFC's chief operating officer and managing director of KFC Asia, leading the brand's global operations team while overseeing markets across Thailand, India, Central Asia, and Greater Asia. Sami also served as managing director of KFC's Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, and Turkey markets. He also served as general manager of Yum Canada and in general manager roles for KFC's Canada and Turkey businesses. Before joining Yum in 2009, Sami held various leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, The Coca-Cola Co., and Reckitt Benckiser.

Sami now serves as a director of Sami Advisory, a business consulting firm he founded in August 2025. He also serves on the board of directors for Save the Children Canada. He holds an MBA from the University of Karachi in Pakistan.

“With an iconic brand and global fanfare, Chipotle has an immense opportunity to bring its craveable menu to more guests around the world. I look forward to helping the company realize its significant potential,” Sami said in a statement.

Sami joins the board as Chipotle targets 7,000 locations in the U.S. and Canada, from its 4,200 or so now. Simultaneously, the chain is also striving to become a “global powerhouse” — a directive CEO Scott Boatwright put into place shortly after he was named to that position at the end of 2024. Earlier this month, Chipotle made its debut in Asia, for example, while also expanding to Mexico.

Chipotle first expanded outside of the United States in 2008, in Canada, followed by the United Kingdom (2010), France (2012), and Germany (2013). The chain debuted in the Middle East in April 2024 following its first international development agreement with Alshaya Group.

With Sami’s appointment, Chipotle's board is now composed of 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent.

"Sabir brings deep restaurant operating expertise and a proven track record leading brands across international markets," Board Chair Scott Maw said in a statement. "That experience will be invaluable as we scale Chipotle with intention, strengthen our operations and expand access to our brand around the world."