Sweetgreen Will Appoint New Chief People Officer
The restaurant chain will bring in a veteran HR leader to scale operations as it grows beyond 285 locations.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Human Resources
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Lauren Crowley will become the chief people officer at Sweetgreen on Oct. 26, 2026, as the company looks to strengthen its organizational structure for future growth. Current chief people officer Adrienne Gemperle will assist with the leadership transition through the end of the year.
Why it matters
As Sweetgreen manages over 285 restaurants, leadership transitions in human resources signal a focus on scaling internal operations and managing labor complexity. Strengthening people management is a strategic move for businesses balancing rapid growth with consistent operational performance.
The incoming chief people officer brings experience managing human resources for 200,000 employees across 15,000 Starbucks locations. Sweetgreen now operates more than 285 restaurants across the United States, expanding from its first 560-square-foot location opened in 2007.
The players
Lauren Crowley
An experienced human resources executive who has held leadership roles at major consumer brands including Starbucks and Expedia Group.
Jonathan Neman
The CEO of Sweetgreen who oversees the strategic direction of the fast-casual restaurant chain.
Adrienne Gemperle
The outgoing chief people officer at Sweetgreen who is managing the leadership transition through the end of the year.
The details
Crowley will report directly to CEO Jonathan Neman to oversee the company's workforce strategy and internal operations. This transition replaces outgoing chief people officer Adrienne Gemperle, who will work with Crowley until the end of 2026 to ensure operational continuity. Crowley joins the firm following senior roles at Expedia Group, where she managed human resources for 16,500 employees across 56 countries.
Timeline
Lauren Crowley joins Sweetgreen on Oct. 26, 2026.
Adrienne Gemperle concludes her transition support at the end of 2026.
Market Landscape
This move follows a pattern set by the rapid scaling phase of fast-casual chains as they professionalize their executive suites to support national growth. Firms typically transition to industry-veteran HR leadership when headcount management becomes as critical as supply chain execution.
Operators should monitor whether this leadership change results in updated recruitment or retention policies at the restaurant level. As Sweetgreen scales, its approach to labor management and employee operations often provides a benchmark for other multi-unit food service businesses.
The takeaway
Large-scale organizational growth often necessitates bringing in external leadership experience from high-volume, multi-unit retailers. Owners should review their own internal HR leadership requirements to ensure they align with their current expansion roadmap for the next 12 to 24 months.
Further reading
For more on evolving workforce management strategies, visit Human Resources.
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