Sweetgreen Appoints Chief Development Officer

Sweetgreen has named Ryan Slemons as chief development officer. He’ll report directly to Jonathan Neman, the brand’s co-founder and CEO. Slemons will lead all aspects of real estate, design, construction, facilities and portfolio management for the 285-plus unit brand.

Slemons brings to the role nearly 20 years of experience in real estate, franchising and store development across various industries. He most recently served as chief development officer for Unleashed Brands, which includes kids-focused brands, such as Urban Air Adventure Park.

“Ryan brings a rare ability to design spaces that are deeply customer-focused, operationally thoughtful, and elevate the in-restaurant experience,” says Neman in the release. “We’re thrilled to have him join us at such an important time for the company. He will play a critical role as we continue our physical expansion, evolve our formats and design, and continue bringing real food to more communities across the country.”

Previously, Slemons was vice president of global real estate and development at GameStop, supporting thousands of retail stores, as well as distribution centers and corporate offices. He also spent nearly eight years at Amazon, leading retail execution for the first Amazon Go stores across the U.S. and supporting Amazon’s brick-and-mortar brands. Slemons also held roles at Starbucks where he managed a portfolio of more than 1,000 stores across the Pacific Northwest.

In 2025, at the close of its sale of Spyce, Sweetgreen noted its plan to reinvest in key priorities and focus on its growth and operational efficiency.