Staffing
Veteran finance executive Earl Ellis named Panera Bread CFO
October 21, 2025
Panera Bread has appointed Earl Ellis as chief financial officer, effective immediately.
Ellis will report directly to CEO Paul Carbone and join the company's executive leadership team.
"Earl is a proven finance leader who blends disciplined financial stewardship with an owner's mindset," Carbone said in company press release. "His experience will help accelerate our plan to strengthen the core business, elevate the guest experience, and drive long-term, profitable growth."
Ellis most recently served as executive vice president and CFO at ABM Industries, a Fortune 500 facility services company with more than $8 billion in revenue. During his tenure at ABM, he managed global finance, accounting, investor relations and procurement, while helping execute a multi-year business transformation.
Before ABM, Ellis held senior finance leadership roles at several major companies, including Best Buy (where he was CFO of Best Buy Canada), Canadian Tire, Campbell Soup Company, Kraft Foods and Coca-Cola. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Xylem Inc.
"Panera's strong foundation, iconic reputation, and passionate teams create an extraordinary platform for growth," Ellis said in the release. "I look forward to partnering with Paul and the leadership team to advance our strategy, invest with rigor, and deliver sustainable long-term growth."
Ellis succeeds Megan Mikolaichik, who has served as interim CFO since January 2025.
Panera Bread operates about 2,200 company and franchise locations across 48 states, Washington D.C., and Canada. It is part of Panera Brands, which also includes Caribou Coffee and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
