Drew Madsen was named interim CEO for Noodles & Company while the fast-casual chain conducts a formal search for a permanent CEO. The move coincides with the departure of Dave Boennighausen as CEO as the company declares it is transitioning to new leadership.

Madsen has been a Noodles & Company board member since 2017. Previously, he served as president of Panera Bread before departing the company in 2016. Prior to that, he served as president and chief operating officer at Darden Restaurants.

Boennighausen himself was interim CEO for nearly a year before being appointed CEO in June 2017; he first joined Noodles & Company in 2004. Regarding the departure, Noodles & Company gave a nod of gratitude to Boenninghausen for navigating the chain through “a period of rapid change and market disruption, including during the pandemic” in the release announcing the shift in leadership.