Sweetgreen co-founder, chief brand officer Nathaniel Ru to retire

Sweetgreen (SG) announced that, effective on January 1, 2026, Nathaniel Ru will be retiring from his role as Chief Brand Officer. Ru spent 20 years building the company. Ru will continue to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. “It’s hard to put into words the emotions I feel looking back on how far we’ve come since those early days in Georgetown. What started as a simple yet powerful idea-to create a place where healthy, sustainable food was accessible to all-has grown into something far beyond what I ever imagined. I feel incredibly lucky to have brought this dream to life alongside some of the brightest, hardest-working people I’ve ever known. We’ve partnered with hundreds of farmers across the United States to source some of the most delicious ingredients. We’ve collaborated with the world’s best chefs, athletes, and musicians. We’ve helped underserved communities and classrooms gain access to healthy food. We’ve had the opportunity to serve over 300 million healthy meals across 280 restaurants in over 150 cities. Sweetgreen has become successful beyond my wildest dreams, and I’m forever grateful to have played a small part in a big mission.” Zipporah Allen, who joined as Chief Commercial Officer in September, has assumed Ru’s responsibilities. Allen most recently served as the Chief Business Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Strava.