José Cil

José Cil
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive, investor
Title	Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer, JAB Holding Company
Known for	Former CEO of Restaurant Brands International (Burger King, Tim Hortons, Popeyes); Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer at JAB Holding Company

José Cil is an American business executive who served as the chief executive officer of Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. During his tenure at RBI, Cil oversaw the global operations of three of the world's largest quick-service restaurant brands, managing thousands of franchise locations across dozens of countries. After departing RBI, Cil transitioned to the private equity sector, joining JAB Holding Company in 2025. In May 2025, he was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Panera Brands, and in November 2025, JAB elevated him to the position of Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer, giving him oversight of the firm's portfolio of restaurant and consumer-facing brands, including Panera Bread, Pret a Manger, and other global café and restaurant chains. His career has spanned multiple decades in the global restaurant industry, with a focus on international brand expansion and franchise-driven growth.

Career

Restaurant Brands International

José Cil built a substantial career in the quick-service restaurant sector, rising to become chief executive officer of Restaurant Brands International, one of the largest fast-food holding companies in the world. RBI was formed in 2014 through the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons, orchestrated by 3G Capital, a Brazilian private equity firm. The company later added Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen to its portfolio in 2017 and Firehouse Subs in 2021.

As CEO of RBI, Cil was responsible for the strategic direction and global operations of the company's portfolio of brands, which collectively operated tens of thousands of restaurant locations worldwide. His leadership period encompassed efforts to expand the international footprint of Burger King and Popeyes, strengthen the performance of Tim Hortons in Canada and abroad, and manage the integration of newly acquired brands into the RBI corporate structure.

Cil's background within the RBI ecosystem was extensive. Before assuming the CEO role, he held senior leadership positions within the Burger King brand, where he was involved in international operations and franchise development. His experience in managing large-scale franchise networks across diverse markets informed his approach to leading the broader RBI enterprise.

During his time at RBI, the company navigated significant industry challenges, including shifts in consumer preferences, the growth of delivery and digital ordering platforms, and the operational disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Cil's leadership, RBI pursued strategies centered on menu innovation, digital transformation, and the continued expansion of its restaurant footprint through franchising.

After his departure from the CEO position at RBI, Cil's deep experience in managing global restaurant brands positioned him as a candidate for senior leadership roles in the broader food and consumer sector.

JAB Holding Company

In 2025, Cil joined JAB Holding Company, a Luxembourg-based private investment firm with significant holdings in the consumer goods, restaurant, and beverage sectors. JAB's portfolio includes controlling stakes in a number of prominent consumer brands, including Panera Bread, Pret a Manger, Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Coty Inc., among others.

Cil's initial role at JAB involved leading the firm's restaurant and consumer-facing portfolio. In May 2025, he was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Panera Brands, the parent entity that encompasses Panera Bread, Caribou Coffee, and Einstein Bros. Bagels. In this capacity, Cil was tasked with working closely with Panera's leadership team to drive the growth strategy for the brand portfolio.

The appointment at Panera came amid a period of significant change for the brand. Restaurant Business Magazine reported that Cil's installation as chairman was accompanied by an "almost complete board shakeup," with six other new members joining the Panera Brands board alongside him. The overhaul was seen as preparation for a new strategic direction for the Panera Bread brand and its sister concepts.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Cil was selected by JAB to oversee not only Panera but also other restaurant chains in the firm's portfolio, including Pret a Manger, the British multinational sandwich and café chain with hundreds of locations across 19 countries. Pret a Manger had been acquired by JAB in 2018 for approximately £1.5 billion.

Promotion to Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer

On November 3, 2025, approximately five months after his appointment as Panera chairman, JAB announced that Cil had been promoted to the role of Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer at the firm. In this expanded position, Cil assumed responsibility for overseeing JAB's entire consumer-facing portfolio, which extends beyond restaurants to include holdings in the beauty and personal care sector, notably the firm's controlling stake in Coty Inc..

The Business Wire announcement stated that Cil had "joined JAB earlier this year" and that the promotion to Senior Partner reflected the firm's confidence in his ability to lead its consumer investments on a global scale. World Coffee Portal reported that the appointment came as Cil was tasked with leading JAB's "portfolio of global café chains" alongside the firm's other consumer holdings, underscoring the breadth of his new mandate.

The promotion represented a significant expansion of Cil's responsibilities within JAB. As Global Head of Consumer, his oversight encompasses a diverse collection of brands spanning the restaurant, café, bakery, and beauty industries across multiple continents. The role requires coordinating strategy across brands with varying operational models, from franchise-heavy restaurant chains to company-operated retail locations and consumer packaged goods companies.

Oversight of Pret a Manger

As part of his JAB responsibilities, Cil's purview includes Pret a Manger, the British sandwich and café chain that JAB acquired in 2018. Pret a Manger was originally founded in London in 1983 by Jeffrey Hyman and later developed by Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham. The chain grew to become one of the United Kingdom's most recognizable food-on-the-go brands, known for its sandwiches, salads, soups, and coffees.

Prior to JAB's acquisition, Pret a Manger had been owned by Bridgepoint Capital, a private equity firm, after McDonald's sold its 33% stake in the company in 2008. JAB's acquisition of Pret was completed in 2018 and was seen as part of the firm's broader strategy to build a portfolio of premium consumer food and beverage brands.

Under JAB's ownership, Pret a Manger continued its international expansion while also facing challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its core urban customer base. As of 2024, Pret operated approximately 697 locations across 19 countries, with the majority of its stores located in the United Kingdom, particularly in London. The day-to-day management of Pret a Manger remains under its own CEO, Pano Christou, while Cil's role at JAB provides strategic oversight at the holding company level.

Recognition

Cil's appointment to senior leadership positions at JAB Holding Company received coverage from multiple business and industry publications, reflecting his standing within the global restaurant and consumer goods sectors. The Wall Street Journal reported on his selection to oversee Panera and Pret a Manger as a front-page business story in May 2025, characterizing the appointment as a significant development for JAB's restaurant portfolio. QSR Magazine, a leading trade publication for the quick-service restaurant industry, covered his appointment as Panera chairman, noting his extensive background at RBI. Restaurant Business Magazine described the accompanying board restructuring at Panera Brands as a major governance overhaul, with Cil at the center of the new leadership structure.

His subsequent promotion to Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer at JAB in November 2025 was reported by Business Wire, Global Cosmetics News, World Coffee Portal, and other outlets, indicating that the appointment was viewed as noteworthy across multiple industries encompassed by JAB's consumer portfolio, from restaurants and coffee to beauty and personal care.

Cil's career trajectory—from senior roles within Burger King, to the CEO position at one of the world's largest quick-service restaurant companies, to a senior partner role at a major global investment firm—has positioned him as a prominent figure in the international restaurant and consumer brand management landscape.