Noodles president to become Portillo’s 2nd CEO

The president of the Noodles & Co. restaurants is leaving to take over the top job at Portillo’s.

Keith Kinsey, who is also Noodles chief operating officer, would be only the second CEO at Portillo’s Restaurant Group after Dick Portillo, who founded the area mainstay 52 years ago. Portillo’s was sold to a private equity firm last year.

Kinsey began at Noodles in 2005 as chief financial officer, was named COO in 2007, and president in 2012.

He takes over at Portillo’s in July, though the company said Dick Portillo will remain heavily involved in operations.

“With his help, I will ensure that our customers continue to enjoy the high quality food and service they’ve come to expect from Portillo’s,” said Kinsey, who is a graduate of University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Noodles will not refill the COO position, the company said Monday.

Noodles & Co., based in Broomfield, Colorado, became a publicly traded company 2013.