Management Biographies
Ronald M. Shaich
Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board
Ron Shaich is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Panera Bread Company, where he previously served for over 20 years as the company's Chief Executive Officer. Today, Shaich is directing a range of long term innovation and strategic initiatives for the company.
Shaich began his career in the bakery-cafe industry in 1981 and went on to co-found Au Bon Pain Co., Inc. and, ultimately, founded Panera Bread. Today, the Company operates or franchises nearly 1,600 locations in 40 states and Canada. System-wide sales in 2010 exceeded $3 billion.
Under Shaich's leadership, Panera was the singularly best performing restaurant stock when measured over his last decade as CEO and the second best performing consumer stock on the S&P consumer index when measured over that same decade. Panera is the 6th most valuable publically traded U.S. restaurant company (as of March 29, 2011).
In his many years as CEO, Shaich received widespread recognition for his leadership. Shaich was awarded the 2011 MUFSO Pioneer Award for being one of the most significant contributors in the history of the food service industry. Past winners have included Colonel Harland Sanders, Ray Kroc, Norman Brinker and J. Willard Marriott, Sr. In 2005, he was awarded IFMA’s Gold Plate Award for being the outstanding leader in the food service industry. As well, he has twice received the Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain Award which is given to figures who exemplify success and leadership in the food service industry.
Shaich has also been a national finalist for Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. The Company and Shaich’s innovative management style have been featured in Fortune, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, The Economist, TIME, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, all three network evening news programs (NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, ABC World News Tonight) and several books. As well, Shaich frequently represents Panera Bread on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN and Fox News.
Shaich also serves as President of the Panera Bread Foundation and recently spearheaded the Panera Cares initiative, through which the Foundation created nonprofit community cafes aimed at addressing issues related to food insecurity. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lown Cardiovascular Research Foundation and on the Board of the Rashi School. Shaich formerly served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Clark University.
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. He resides in Brookline, MA with his wife, Nancy, and children, Michael and Emma.
For more information on Shaich, visit www.ronshaich.com. This Web site includes photographs, recent articles, presentations, interviews and publications.
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 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.
Charles J. Chapman, III
Executive Vice President
In November 2011, Charles "Chuck" J. Chapman, III, joined Panera's management team as Executive Vice President and is responsible for Business Development & Licensing, Information Services, and Development. Prior to this time, he served on Panera's Board of Directors since January 2008.
Chapman joins Panera Bread from Dairy Queen (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway) where he was most recently its Chief Operating Officer. He also worked as COO for Bruegger's Bagels Inc. and as President and co-Owner of Beantown Bagels, a Bruegger's franchise. Additionally, he held various marketing and operations positions with Darden Restaurants and began his career with the consulting firm Bain & Company. Chapman earned his MBA from Amos Tuck Business School of Administration at Dartmouth College and his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Psychology from Dartmouth College.
Scott Davis
Executive Vice President & Chief Concept Officer
Scott Davis is responsible for bringing the customer experience alive multi-dimensionally in Panera's bakery-cafes. His work includes the ongoing evolution of the Panera Bread concept for which he draws on longtime experience at Panera as well as his time with Saint Louis Bread Co. where, in 1996, he spearheaded the creation of its new prototype bakery-cafe.
He joined Au Bon Pain Co. as a Store Manager in 1987. In 1993 he became New Concept Manager and led the development of the company's Choices concept. In 1995, he was tapped to create an R & D team for Saint Louis Bread Co. which later became known as Panera Bread as it expanded nationally. Davis was named Director that same year and has since led the Panera Concept Team. In May 2010 he was named Executive Vice President and has recently been honored by Nation's Restaurant News with its 2011 MenuMasters Innovator Award.
Davis holds an Associate's degree of Applied Sciences in Computer Science from State University of New York, Mohawk Valley.
Jeffrey Kip
Executive 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.
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 and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program from Harvard Business School.
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.
Liz Dunlap
Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer
Liz Dunlap joined Panera Bread as Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer in June 2011.
Prior to leading Panera's Human Resources, Dunlap was the Chief HR Officer for Christie’s in New York City, where she led a global team in support of operations in 30 countries. At Campbell Soup Company, where she spent 11 years, she first was head of HR for their Away From Home division then became the global HR lead for Godiva Chocolatier. She also held HR leadership positions at Sizzler Restaurants and Disney Consumer Products, as well as various HR positions at Taco Bell and Carnation/Nestle.
Dunlap earned a degree in Psychology from the University of California - Los Angeles.
Blaine E. Hurst
Senior Vice President, Technology Business Strategies
Blaine E. Hurst joined Panera Bread in January 2011 as Senior Vice President, Technology Business Strategies.
Prior to joining our company, Hurst was an entrepreneur and consultant, assisting numerous restaurant, retail, and distribution companies in their development and growth, including the development of Panera's strategic information systems plan. Hurst also served as President, Restaurant Technology Solutions, a division of eMac Digital, LLC. Prior to eMac, Hurst was Vice Chairman and President of Papa John's International Inc., after having served as its Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President, Information Services. Before joining Boston Chicken as its Vice President – Information Services, Mr. Hurst was a consulting division Partner with Ernst & Young, founding the firm's Center for Information Technology Planning and Development.
Hurst earned a Bachelor of Arts with High Distinction in Computer Science from Indiana University.
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 Chocolatier. 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.