Panera Bread Company (NASDAQ: PNRA) – Ron Shaich, Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer, and Bill Moreton, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, announced that Roger C. Matthews, Jr., was appointed Panera’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective March 18, 2013.
Matthews will bring to Panera more than 15 years of strategic and financial expertise from his time at Goldman Sachs where he served as the senior relationship banker for more than 40 leading restaurant, consumer and retail clients. Most recently, Roger served as Managing Director and Sector Head of the U.S. Restaurant Industry in Goldman Sachs’ Investment Banking Division. “Panera is extremely fortunate to have an executive of Roger’s caliber join our Company and management team,” commented Shaich. “Panera has already benefitted from Roger’s deep expertise and critical thinking over the past 15 years. Moreover, during this time we have developed a strong connection, built upon a foundation of profound respect and shared values.”
Pat Kelly, who has served as Panera’s Interim CFO since April 2012, will remain in place until the end of March to ensure a smooth transition. “We thank Pat for his service to Panera which has enabled us to focus on finding the appropriate candidate for the permanent position,” said Moreton.
Before joining Goldman Sachs in 1996, Matthews held various positions at J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. Matthews earned his MBA from Harvard Graduate School and Bachelor of Science degree from University of Virginia.
Panera Bread Company owns and franchises 1,652 bakery-cafes as of December 25, 2012 under the Panera Bread, Saint Louis Bread Co., and Paradise Bakery & Café names. Our bakery-cafes are principally located in suburban, strip mall and regional mall locations. We feature high quality, reasonably priced food in a warm, inviting, and comfortable environment. With our identity rooted in handcrafted, fresh-baked, artisan bread, we are committed to providing great tasting, quality food that people can trust. Nearly all of our bakery-cafes have a menu highlighted by antibiotic-free chicken, whole grain bread, and select organic and all-natural ingredients, with zero grams of artificial trans fat per serving, which provide flavorful, wholesome offerings. Our menu includes a wide variety of year-round favorites complemented by new items introduced seasonally with the goal of creating new standards in everyday food choices. In neighborhoods across the United States and in Ontario, Canada, our customers enjoy our warm and welcoming environment featuring comfortable gathering areas, relaxing decor, and free internet access. Our bakery-cafes routinely donate bread and baked goods to community organizations in need. Additional information is available on our website, http://www.panerabread.com.
