# Chipotle's COO seeks four key traits when promoting leaders COO Jason Kidd visits several stores weekly to identify employees for internal promotions - **Source:** [Fast Company](https://www.fastcompany.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-13 - **Topic:** [Leadership](https://brifing.si/c/leadership) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/0277ddfe-cbad-4e0f-b53c-84dede57fa6b ## Leadership development in retail giant Chipotle's COO Jason Kidd conducts multiple store visits weekly to identify potential candidates for internal leadership promotions. During these visits, he evaluates employee performance through one-on-one interactions. ## Scale of promotion process Last year, 23,000 Chipotle employees were promoted to various leadership positions. This number showcases the chain's growth pace and commitment to employee development. ## Collaboration with regional managers Kidd organizes regular dinners with regional managers when making promotion decisions. These meetings involve in-depth discussions about store performance and employee potential. ## Four sought-after traits The COO looks for four critical qualities in employees to be promoted: teamwork orientation, problem-solving skills, customer focus, and pursuit of operational excellence. ## Importance of field experience Kidd's store visit strategy emphasizes how crucial it is for top executives to observe operational realities firsthand. This approach supports decision-making with concrete data. ## Culture of internal growth Chipotle's intensive promotion policy strengthens its culture of internal advancement. This boosts employee loyalty while ensuring continuity of corporate culture. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.fastcompany.com/91572746/chipotles-coo-looks-for-four-key-traits-when-promoting-leaders — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._