News

Pret CEO retiring

July 1, 2019

Pret A Manger CEO Clive Schlee is retiring as CEO, and COO Pano Christou will take his place, according to a company press release. Schlee, who has been CEO since 2003, will become non-executive director.

Pano Christou is taking over as Pret A Manger CEO.

During his tenure, Schlee has grown the UK-based sandwich chain's sales tenfold, helping it to become a billion-pound business with over 550 shops across nine markets, according to the release. He has also overseen the brand's purchase of Eat, a 94-unit chain that Pret is converting into Veggie Prets by the end of next year.

"There is never an easy time to stop being CEO of a wonderful company, but with the completion of our Eat deal tomorrow, and the roll out of the Pret Allergy Plan, now is a good time for a new CEO to take Pret on the next stage of its journey," Schlee said in the release. "I'm really pleased Pano is taking over. He knows our shops through and through and will keep Pret true to the values that have underpinned its success."

Christou started as an assistant manager at the Pret on Carnaby Street in London working his way up to become managing director of Pret UK in 2014, and COO at the start of this year.