Panera Bread hires CMO from Cava as transformation work continues

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Andrew Rebhun, who also has experience as chief marketer at El Pollo Loco, will lead all aspects of marketing at the fast-casual chain.

Panera Bread announced that Andrew Rebhun will join the company as chief marketing officer on Aug. 17, per a press release . The executive’s remit will span brand and creative, digital and loyalty, media innovation and media, and he will report to CEO Paul Carbone.

“[Rebhun’s] extensive expertise in the restaurant industry and focus on brand building, customer engagement, loyalty and growth strategy will be invaluable as we continue to transform our business,” Carbone said in a statement.

Rebhun was most recently chief marketing and experience officer at Mediterranean chain Cava, where he oversaw brand, marketing, digital, loyalty, communications, catering and guest experience. Previously, he was CMO at El Pollo Loco and held several marketing roles at McDonald’s.

The executive leaves Cava after a tenure of more than three years. The chain has outperformed its competitors despite a relatively frugal marketing budget and is now on the hunt for a CMO squarely focused on brand and creative.

Previous Panera CMO Mark Shambura will depart the company this month, but the company highlighted his role in helping to evolve the brand and innovate around menu. He also helped launch a Panera RISE transformation strategy as the company seeks to grow its systemwide sales to $7 billion by 2028 . Shambura was previously CMO at Papa Johns and MOD Pizza.

Panera last year introduced a new campaign and tagline, “It Just Meals Good,” as it sought to reorient the brand around sit-down dining for any occasion. More recently, the chain teamed with creator Jake Shane to promote its mix-and-match value menu.

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