Panera Brands Inc., which includes the fast-casual concept Panera Bread as well as the Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. brands, has announced appointments to its board of directors to bolster its restaurant industry experience as the company prepares for its next phase of growth. Patrick Grismer, previously CFO of Starbucks and lead independent director of Panera, has been named board chair. Additionally, industry veteran David Deno has joined the board and will assume the role of audit committee chair, effective immediately.
“We are incredibly pleased to announce Pat’s appointment as board chair and to welcome David to our board at a key inflection point in Panera’s long-term growth trajectory,” says Panera CEO José Alberto Dueñas. “Pat has already made meaningful contributions to the board over the past two years, and David brings impressive depth and breadth of restaurant experience that will be instrumental to our future growth.”