Panera Bread Appoints Cava's Andrew Rebhun as CMO Amid Ongoing Brand Transformation

Panera Bread has announced that Andrew Rebhun will assume the role of chief marketing officer on Aug. 17, according to a press release. Rebhun's responsibilities will encompass brand and creative, digital and loyalty, media innovation, and media, and he will report directly 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 stated.

Rebhun joins Panera from Mediterranean chain Cava, where he most recently served as chief marketing and experience officer, overseeing brand, marketing, digital, loyalty, communications, catering, and guest experience. Prior to Cava, he was CMO at El Pollo Loco and held multiple marketing positions at McDonald's.

His departure from Cava comes after a tenure exceeding three years. During that period, Cava outperformed its competitors despite maintaining a relatively frugal marketing budget. The chain is now seeking a new CMO with a focused mandate on brand and creative.

Rebhun succeeds Mark Shambura, who will leave Panera this month. The company credited Shambura with helping evolve the brand and drive menu innovation. He also played a key role in launching the Panera RISE transformation strategy, which aims to grow systemwide sales to $7 billion by 2028. Shambura previously served as CMO at Papa Johns and MOD Pizza.

Last year, Panera launched a new campaign with the tagline "It Just Meals Good," signaling a renewed focus on sit-down dining for any occasion. More recently, the chain partnered with creator Jake Shane to promote its mix-and-match value menu.