Ron Shaich

Ron Shaich is recognized for his leadership in the restaurant and food service industry.

He is the lead investor and board chair of Cava, Tatte, Life Alive, Level99. He is the founder and former CEO of Panera Bread and Au Bon Pain. Shaich is the author of the bestselling book, "Know What Matters: Lessons from a Lifetime of Transformations."

He has been listed among Boston’s Most Influential People by Boston Magazine and named Restaurant Leader of the Year by Restaurant Business. Shaich received the Legend in Leadership Award from the Chief Executive Leadership Institute at the Yale School of Management and was ranked as the second most influential leader in the restaurant industry by Nation's Restaurant News in its Power List.

Shaich was honored with the Nation’s Restaurant News Pioneer Award for his contributions to the restaurant industry. Previous recipients of this award include Colonel Harland Sanders, Ray Kroc, Norman Brinker and J. Willard Marriott Sr. He also received the IFMA Gold Plate Award for industry leadership and was a two-time recipient of the Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain Award, which recognizes leadership and success in the restaurant sector.

Shaich was named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the New England region and for the Midwest region, and was a finalist for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year.

Shaich chairs or serves on the boards of Clark University, Cambridge Innovation Center, Cava, Life Alive Organic Cafe, Tatte Bakery and Cafe, and Level99. He previously served as chairman of the board of trustees of Clark University and on the boards of Farmers Business Network, Conscious Capitalism Inc., Whole Foods Market Inc., Unite America, the Rashi School, the Lown Cardiovascular Foundation and the Alliance for Business Leadership. Shaich is also a co-founder of No Labels, an organization focused on bipartisan political problem solving and strategic planning.

Shaich is the founder and former CEO of Panera Bread, where he led the company to become a leading fast-casual restaurant brand in the United States. Following Panera’s sale, he founded and manages Act III Holdings, a venture fund investing in innovative restaurant and food concepts. He is a frequent keynote speaker at industry conferences and business forums, sharing expertise on leadership, entrepreneurship, and food service trends.

Shaich holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science and government and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Clark University, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.