Indian American Santhosh Kumar Named Chief Information Officer at Panera Bread
- The seasoned IT executive and digital transformation expert brings deep knowledge in core application modernization, retail POS and in-store systems and electronic payment technologies to the fast casual restaurant chain.
Seasoned IT executive and digital transformation expert Santhosh Kumar has been named Chief Information Officer of Panera Bread, effective Feb. 12. Kumar brings deep expertise in core application modernization, retail POS and in-store systems and electronic payment technologies In his new role, Kumar, who will report to Interim CEO Paul Carbone, “will lead the company’s technology organization, responsible for the development, integration and deployment of technology across more than 2,200 Panera cafes,” according to a press release from the fast casual restaurant chain.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Santhosh to the Panera Bread leadership team,” said Paul Carbone, Interim CEO, Panera Bread. “As the technology landscape continues to evolve, Santhosh brings the right combination of strategic technology expertise, industry experience and proven ability to build high-performing teams that will help drive Panera’s continued success.”
In a statement Santhosh said the company has” a strong history as a technology leader in the restaurant industry. He’s “proud to join an already outstanding team,” he said, and “continue Panera’s relentless focus on creating the most seamless and efficient experience for our team members and guests.”
Kumar joins Panera from United Natural Food, Inc. (UNFI), where he led a multi-year warehouse transformation program and cloud modernization and migrations resulting in significant operational efficiencies and cost savings for the company. Prior to UNFI,
He spent nearly 21 years at Dunkin’ Brands, Inc., including as SVP of IT, leading the IT team globally through several retail and digital innovation initiatives. This included the rollout of new point-of-sale and back-office systems across all USA restaurants; as well as the development and launch of Dunkin’s loyalty program.