Sweetgreen has announced the appointment of Rossann Williams as its new Chief Operating Officer from 5 February 2024.

Williams will be part of Sweetgreen's executive leadership team, tasked with overseeing the company's operations, real estate, development and supply chain.

Sweetgreen co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman said: “Rossann is an industry veteran with a proven track record in driving sustainable growth of global, iconic brands and leading teams to generate profitability.

“Rossann complements the existing skills and experience of our leadership team as we pursue our next chapter of growth. It’s clear that she shares our values, and I look forward to partnering with [her] to further our mission of connecting more communities to real food.”

Williams’ experience spans more than 30 years, with a focus on enhancing team dynamics at all business levels.

Before her new role at Sweetgreen, she had a significant tenure at Starbucks, culminating in the role of executive vice president and president of retail in North America.

She managed 16,000 stores and played a key role in boosting same-store sales and spearheading the opening of thousands of new locations.

Her previous experience includes leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies such as Blockbuster and Toys "R" Us, where she honed her expertise in retail management and operations.

Williams said: “I’ve long admired Sweetgreen’s leadership as a founder-led, mission-driven company driving the industry forward. I am deeply aligned with Sweetgreen’s values, people-centric approach and commitment to connect more people to delicious, real food.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Sweetgreen team at a moment of significant growth and an incredible opportunity ahead.”