---
title: "Panera Bread Appoints Two New Executives"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/691033e6-d51e-4c8b-baa4-1047b8cbe60e
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/panera-bread-appoints-two-new-executives-2708912
category: "Bakery & breakfast"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Bakery & breakfast"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2019-01-16T15:10:01.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:32:42.795Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/02196dc3adab955793ccdd57c23707456350.jpg
---

# Panera Bread Appoints Two New Executives

**TL;DR:** Panera Bread Co. has appointed Karen Kelley and Anita Vanderveer to its executive leadership team. Kelley and Vanderveer will serve as SVP, Chief Restaurant Operations Officer and SVP, Chief People Officer, respectively.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2019-01-16. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/panera-bread-appoints-two-new-executives-2708912).*

## Story

Panera Bread Co. is kicking off 2019 with two key additions to its executive leadership team, according to an article in Nation’s Restaurant News. Karen Kelley and Anita Vanderveer will be joining the fast-casual chain as SVP, Chief Restaurant Operations Officer and SVP, Chief People Officer, respectively.

As Chief Restaurant Operations Officer, Kelley will oversee operations system wide, while Vanderveer will lead the company’s human resources team as Chief People Officer. Both come to the brand with a wealth of restaurant industry experience; Kelley previously served on the leadership team for Tatte Bakery & Café and Sweetgreen, while Vanderveer most recently served as SVP of people at Sonic.

Both will report directly to CEO Blaine Hurst, according to the article.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- fast casual (topic)
- executive appointment (topic)
- leadership team (topic)
- Panera Bread (company)
- Sonic (company)
- Sweetgreen (company)

---
Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/panera-bread-appoints-two-new-executives-2708912). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/691033e6-d51e-4c8b-baa4-1047b8cbe60e).