ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread has appointed its new CFO, tapping in Earl Ellis to the company’s executive leadership team effective immediately. Ellis will report to CEO of Panera Bread, Paul Carbone.
“Earl is a proven finance leader who blends disciplined financial stewardship with an owner’s mindset,” Carbone said. “He has scaled complex, multi-brand organizations, led successful transformations and developed high-performing teams. His experience will help accelerate our plan to strengthen the core business, elevate the guest experience and drive long-term, profitable growth. Panera is entering a defining phase of evolution, building on our strong foundation, leaning into what makes this brand beloved and sharpening our focus on the future.”
Most recently, Ellis served as executive VP and CFO at ABM Industries, a Fortune 500 facility services company with more than 100,000 employees. During his tenure, he led global finance, accounting, investor relations and procurement. Ellis also executed a multi-year transformation, including ERP modernization, and supported growth through capital markets initiatives and M&As.
Prior to ABM, Ellis held senior finance leadership roles at multiple well-known companies, including The Campbell’s Co. (formerly Campbell Soup Co.), Kraft Foods and Coca-Cola.
“I am honored to join Panera at such an energizing moment for the brand,” Ellis said. “Panera’s strong foundation, iconic reputation and passionate teams create an extraordinary platform for growth. I look forward to partnering with Paul and the leadership team to advance our strategy, invest with rigor and deliver sustainable long-term growth that benefits our team members, guests, franchisees and stakeholders.”
Ellis succeeds Megan Mikolaichik, who has served as interim CFO since January 2025 following Carbone’s transition from CFO to CEO.
