Sweetgreen Appoints Executive Chef, Culinary Senior VP

Sweetgreen has appointed John Karangis as executive chef and senior vice president, culinary. He’ll lead the brand’s culinary strategy, overseeing menu innovation, strengthening the core menu and bringing new chef-crafted offerings from the test kitchen to restaurants nationwide.

Karangis has culinary experience spanning fine dining, hospitality and global restaurant brands. Most recently, he served as executive chef and vice president of culinary innovation at Shake Shack. His career also includes seven years as executive chef of Union Square Events, the catering and events arm of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. Karangis began his culinary career in the kitchens of Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern, with additional experience working in restaurants in Paris and San Francisco.

“John brings a unique combination of culinary creativity, fine-dining expertise and experience bringing new ideas to life across restaurants nationwide,” says Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO at Sweetgreen, in the release.

Sweetgreen has more than 285 locations nationwide. It recently announced an expansion into Northeast Florida.