Net worth US$400 million | Name Steve Ells | |
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Alma mater University of Colorado at Boulder (B.A.)Culinary Institute of America Residence Denver, Colorado, United States Organizations founded Chipotle Mexican Grill, ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen Education Boulder High School, University of Colorado Boulder, The Culinary Institute of America | ||
Chipotle founder steve ells addresses series of outbreaks today
Steve Ells (born September 12, 1966) is an American businessman. He is the founder, CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993 and under his direction the chain serves what it describes as "naturally raised meat" and promotes sustainable agriculture.
Contents
- Chipotle founder steve ells addresses series of outbreaks today
- Wc2015 steve ells
- Early life
- Career
- Controversy
- References
Wc2015 steve ells
Early life
Ells was born in Indianapolis, the son of a pharmaceutical executive. He attended Boulder High School and the University of Colorado at Boulder where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and became a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity. He then went on to the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 1990.
Career
Ells served for two years as a sous chef under Jeremiah Tower at Stars restaurant in San Francisco prior to launching Chipotle and now sits on the board of directors of the Land Institute. He borrowed money from family and friends to open the first Chipotle.
We decided long ago that we didn't want Chipotle's success to be tied to the exploitation of animals, farmers, or the environment, but the engagement of our customers.
In 2007, Ells received the CEO of the Year Award from ColoradoBiz magazine.
In 2010, Ells joined the judging and investment panel on NBC's series America's Next Great Restaurant alongside Bobby Flay, Curtis Stone and Lorena Garcia.
Controversy
Ells has received criticism over his salary. In 2013, The New York Times reported he was paid $25.1 million, more than equivalent executives in companies like Ford, Boeing, and AT&T. By the early 2010s, Ells and his co-chief, Montgomery Moran, were paid more than $300 million. In May 2014 shareholders rejected a plan to further the executives' wages.
In March of 2017 Ells was publicly lambasted on Twitter over his reported behavior at an upscale restaurant in Denver. According to RVShare co-founder Joel Clark, Ells and his team were "uppity and condescending" to staff at the restaurant, culminating with Ells loudly humiliating his server for "pouring his wine with the label facing the wrong way."