Management Bios
Ronald M. Shaich
Executive Chairman of the Board
Ron Shaich transitioned to the role of Executive Chairman of the Board of Panera Bread Company in May 2010. He is the co-founder and, for over 25 years, served as the Chief Executive Officer of the company. Shaich began his career in the bakery-cafe industry in 1981, when he opened a small cookie store in downtown Boston. Shortly thereafter, he combined his cookie store operations with a local bakery to co-found Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. The company has been publicly traded since June 1991.
In 1993, Shaich led Au Bon Pain's purchase of a 19-location bakery-cafe concept called Saint Louis Bread Company, and launched the comprehensive re-staging of Saint Louis Bread. Under Shaich's leadership, average unit volumes at Saint Louis Bread increased by 75 percent between 1993, and 1997, the year the Saint Louis Bread began its national expansion using the name Panera Bread Company.
In 1998, Shaich reached the difficult decision to sell all of Au Bon Pain's business units, including the flagship Au Bon Pain brand, and bet the future of the company on the growth of Panera Bread. This plan was approved in May 1999, and the company was renamed Panera Bread (NASDAQ: PNRA). Panera Bread finished the second quarter of 2010 with 1,399 bakery-cafes, delivering fresh, authentic artisan bread and cafe foods in a warm and engaging environment.
In his over 25 years as CEO, Shaich received widespread recognition for his leadership. In 2005, Shaich received the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association's Gold Plate Award as the outstanding leader in the food service industry that year.
Shaich received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University in 1976, and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1978.
Shaich serves as a member of the Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clark University, and is a former Treasurer of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
William W. Moreton
Chief Executive Officer and President
William “Bill” Moreton was named Chief Executive Officer and President of Panera Bread and to the Board of Directors in May 2010, succeeding the company’s co-founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ron Shaich. Moreton rejoined the company in October 2008 as Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to joining Panera, Moreton served as President and Chief Financial Officer of Potbelly Sandwich Works. He also previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Wendy’s International, Inc. subsidiary Baja Fresh. Prior to his responsibilities with Baja Fresh, Moreton was Executive Vice President, Subsidiary Brand Management for Wendy’s, where he assisted with strategy and growth of developing brands. Moreton also served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Quality Dining, Inc.
From 1998 to 2003, Moreton served as Panera Bread’s Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer.
Prior to entering the restaurant industry, Moreton spent a decade in banking, accounting and financial consulting with Credit Agricole and Arthur Andersen & Co.
Moreton earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from DePaul University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Scott Davis
Executive Vice President & Chief Concept Officer
Scott Davis joined Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. as a Store Manager in 1987 and was promoted to District Manager the following year. In 1993 he became New Concept Manager and led the development of the Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. Choices concept.
Davis was enlisted to create a Research and Development team for Saint Louis Bread Co. in 1995. He was named Director of that department in the same year and has since led the Panera Concept Team.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Concept Officer, Davis spearheaded the creation of a new prototype bakery-cafe for Saint Louis Bread Co. in 1996 and is now working on the next generation bakery-cafe for Panera Bread. Davis is responsible for Panera customer experience projects. In May 2010, he was named Executive Vice President and Chief Concept Officer.
Davis holds an Associate's degree of Applied Sciences in Computer Science from State University of New York, Mohawk Valley.
John Maguire
Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer
John Maguire joined Panera Bread in 1994. He has held various positions, including Director of Commissary Operations, Vice President of Commissary Operations, Vice President of Bakery Supply Chain, and Senior Vice President, Chief Company and Joint Venture Operations Officer. In March 2008, Maguire was named Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to joining Panera, Maguire held various manufacturing positions with Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. and was with Bread and Circus/Whole Foods Supermarkets and Continental Baking Company.
Maguire attended Kansas State University.
Cedric Vanzura
Executive Vice President & Co-Chief Operating Officer
Cedric "Rick" Vanzura joined Panera Bread in April 2008 as Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer. In October 2008, Vanzura was named Executive Vice President, Co-Chief Operating Officer.
Prior to joining Panera, Vanzura held a variety of roles at Borders Group, Inc., including President of Emerging Business, Strategy and Technology, President, Borders International and President, Specialty Retail and Information Technology. Vanzura has also been involved with Information Technology at the strategic level, having previously served as President, Borders Online during the company's initial e-commerce launch and as Chief Strategy Officer, Information Systems and Technology for General Motors. Vanzura has also worked as a consultant for Deloitte & Touche Management Consultant.
Vanzura earned a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance from Santa Clara University.
Scott Blair
Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
Scott Blair joined Panera Bread in January 2003 as Special Counsel for Employee Relations. In January 2008, Blair was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel.
Prior to becoming in-house counsel, Blair worked as the outside employment and labor law firm for Panera and Au Bon Pain from 1994 to 2003. Blair previously served as a partner in the Boston law firm Stoneman, Chandler & Miller, where he represented a range of clients before the National Labor Relations Board, Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Department of Labor and numerous other state and federal agencies.
Blair holds a Juris Doctorate from Boston College Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Williams College.
Mark Borland
Senior Vice President & Chief Supply Chain Officer
Mark Borland joined Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. in 1986 and has held various management titles within Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. and Panera Bread, including Executive Vice President, Vice President of Retail Operations, Chief Operating Officer and President of Manufacturing Services. In his current role as Senior Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer, his responsibilities include management of all supply chain activities, including the fresh dough facilities, purchasing, and the retail baker group.
Borland has also served as Senior Vice President of Operations at RetailDNA.
Borland holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Pepperdine University, and completed studies at the American Institute of Baking.
Rebecca Fine
Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer
Rebecca Fine joined Panera Bread in August 2004 as Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer. Prior to joining Panera Bread, Fine served as Chief People Officer for Seed Restaurant Group, operator of Fazoli's Italian Restaurants. Previously, Fine has also held various positions for both Shoney's Inc. and Hardee's Food Systems, Inc.
She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Women's Foodservice Forum and the American Society for Training & Development (ASTD).
Fine attended the University of Missouri.
Jeffrey Kip
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Jeff Kip joined Panera Bread in April 2003 as Vice President of Corporate Development and later assumed the role of Vice President of Finance and Planning. In May 2006 he was promoted to Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to joining Panera, Kip was part of the media and entertainment investment banking team at UBS Warburg. Prior to joining UBS Warburg, Kip was an investment banker for Goldman, Sachs & Co. in New York, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance for consumer, retail and industrial clients in both the public and private sectors.
Kip holds a Masters of Business Administration from Duke University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Williams College.
Thomas Kish
Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer
Tom Kish joined Panera Bread in April 2001 as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. In December 2004 Kish was promoted to Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer. In his current role, Kish oversees Panera Bread Information Services, which includes Field Services, Technical Operations and Enterprise Systems.
Prior to joining Panera Bread, Kish was Vice President, Information and Support Services for Papa John's International. Kish began his career with Arthur Andersen & Co. in their consulting practice.
Kish holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.
Michael Kupstas
Senior Vice President & Chief Franchise Officer
Mike Kupstas joined Panera Bread as Vice President of Operations (Company, Franchise and Retail Bakery) in January 1996. In June of 1999, he was promoted to Vice President, Franchising and Brand Communication. Kupstas continued in that role until his January 2002 promotion to Senior Vice President, Chief Franchise Officer.
Prior to joining Panera Bread, Kupstas was a Senior Vice President/Division Vice President for Long John Silver's, Inc. He held several marketing positions with Long John Silver's before leading its largest division. Kupstas also held several marketing positions at the Red Lobster division of General Mills Restaurant Group, now Darden Restaurants.
Kupstas holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration-Marketing from North Adams State College in Massachusetts.
Michael Nolan
Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer
Michael Nolan joined Panera Bread in August 2001 as Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer. His prior experience includes serving as Executive Vice President and Director of John Harvard’s Brew House LLC, and Senior Vice President of Development for American Hospitality Concepts, Inc. Nolan also held the position of Vice President of Real Estate and Development at Apple South Inc. and Morrison Restaurants Inc.
Nolan holds a Masters of Business Administration and Finance from the University of South Alabama and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Michael Simon
Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer
Michael Simon joined Panera Bread in October 2009 as Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer.
Prior to joining Panera, Simon held various roles at Campbell Soup Company, including Senior Vice President/General Manager of the Snacks Division at Pepperidge Farm, as well as senior marketing positions in Pepperidge Farm’s Bakery Division and at Godiva Chocolate. Simon also held several marketing positions at Ralston Purina.
Simon earned a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Dartmouth College.
William H. Simpson
Senior Vice President & Chief Company and Joint Venture Operations Officer
William "Hank" Simpson joined Panera Bread in 2002 as Director, Retail Operations and Joint Venture Partner. In February 2005, he was promoted to Vice President, Retail Operations. In April 2006, Simpson was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Company and Join Venture Operations Officer. Previously, Simpson was Vice President, Franchise Operations and Regional Vice President of Company Operations for Bennigan's Restaurants. He also served as Director, Human Resources for On the Border restaurants.
Simpson attended the University of Central Florida.