ST. LOUIS — Panera Brands, which includes Panera Bread and Einstein Bros., announced the appointment of Paul Carbone, current CFO of Panera Brands, to interim CEO. He will provide leadership to the company as its board of directors considers internal and external candidates for the role of CEO, maintaining his current role as CFO.
“Panera is the pioneer of fast casual and one of the most iconic and enduring brands in our industry,” Carbone said. “Over the last year, we have listened to our guests, our team members and our franchisees, and have innovated behind our core product offerings to ensure that Panera continues to be a category leader known for distinctive, high-quality food and an exceptional guest experience. Being a leader in this effort is a tremendous opportunity and I am excited to partner with our management team and franchisees to unlock Panera’s next phase of growth.”
Current CEO José Alberto Dueñas is stepping down but will serve as special advisor through the end of March to ensure a smooth transition.
“I am immensely proud of leading Panera during this transformative period for the company,” Dueñas said. “With the strategic foundation and a phenomenal leadership team in place, I’m totally confident the best is yet to come for Panera Brands.”
Carbone brings extensive restaurant industry experience to the role. Prior to joining Panera in 2023, Carbone served as CFO of Dunkin’ Brands for nine years, doubling the company’s market capitalization.
“I want to thank José for all he has done for Panera, including transforming the menu, improving restaurant-level margins and enhancing organizational agility, all of which have positioned the company for long-term growth,” said Patrick Grismer, chair for Panera Brands. “Paul is a well-respected industry veteran with a tremendous track record of success, and I look forward to continuing working with him as he assumes the role of interim CEO and advances our strategies to further strengthen Panera and ignite new-unit development. Our board fully supports the current strategic direction of Panera and expects the company to stay the course on execution.”
