Panera Bread has announced the appointment of Santhosh Kumar as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO). In his role, Kumar will report directly to Interim CEO Paul Carbone and will be responsible for advancing technology development, integration, and deployment across the company’s 2,200+ cafes.
Kumar brings extensive experience in retail technology and digital transformation to the table. Prior to joining Panera, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), where he led efforts in warehouse transformation and cloud modernization, resulting in significant operational efficiencies and cost reductions. Before his tenure at UNFI, Kumar spent nearly 21 years at Dunkin’ Brands, including as Senior Vice President of IT. There, he oversaw key global retail and digital initiatives, such as the rollout of new point-of-sale systems in U.S. restaurants and the successful launch of Dunkin’s loyalty program.
Commenting on his new role, Kumar expressed, “Panera Bread has a rich history as a restaurant technology leader. I am excited to be part of an already exceptional team and to continue Panera’s relentless pursuit of delivering the most seamless and efficient experience for our team members and guests.”
Interim CEO Paul Carbone also praised Kumar’s appointment, stating, “As the technology landscape keeps evolving, Santhosh possesses the right balance of strategic technology knowledge, industry know-how, and demonstrated ability to assemble high-performing teams that will propel Panera’s sustained success.”
Panera Bread operates 2,216 company-owned and franchised cafes across 48 states, Washington D.C., and Ontario, Canada, under the Panera Bread and Saint Louis Bread Co. names.
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