Jason Cochran is a seasoned operations executive with more than 25 years of experience leading high-performing teams across the restaurant and retail industries.
As the Chief Operating Officer for Sweetgreen, Jason is responsible for overseeing Field Operations and Operations Services and Innovation. He is focused on scaling the company’s operational capabilities, enhancing the guest experience while advancing Sweetgreen’s mission to connect people to real food.
Prior to joining Sweetgreen, Jason served as Chief Executive Officer and Board Member at American West Restaurant Group (AWRG), the third-largest Pizza Hut franchisee in the U.S. Backed by private equity, Jason led AWRG through a business transformation focused on improved operations, talent development, and long-term value creation—delivering strong EBITDA growth while improving restaurant-level margin performance.
Before AWRG, Jason was Vice President of Operations Services at Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he supported over 3,000 restaurants and $8.6 billion in annual sales. There, he led efforts in menu innovation, process improvement, facilities management, and national training programs. He was instrumental in guiding the brand through a period of strong growth and operational evolution.
Jason also spent 14 years at GameStop, where he held multiple senior leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of U.S. Stores, overseeing more than 4,400 locations and over $7.5 billion in revenue. His leadership spanned store operations, merchandising, marketing, and digital transformation. Earlier in his career, he held key roles at national retailers in the sporting goods and apparel sectors.
He resides in Orange County, California, and enjoys snowboarding, motorcycling, and mentoring the next generation of leaders.