José Cil

José Cil
Nationality	American
Occupation	Business executive, investor
Title	Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer
Employer	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 a portfolio of some of the world's largest quick-service restaurant brands, guiding the company through a period of international expansion and brand development. Following his departure from 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 role of Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer, a position in which he oversees the firm's extensive portfolio of consumer-facing brands including Panera, Pret a Manger, and other restaurant and café concepts. His career has spanned more than two decades in the restaurant industry, during which he held a series of operational and leadership roles at some of the sector's most recognized companies.

Career

Restaurant Brands International

José Cil spent a significant portion of his career at Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the Canadian-American multinational quick-service restaurant holding company that owns and operates Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. RBI was formed in 2014 through the merger of Burger King and Tim Hortons, orchestrated by 3G Capital and Berkshire Hathaway. Popeyes was subsequently added to the portfolio in 2017.

Cil rose through the ranks at RBI, ultimately serving as the company's Chief Executive Officer. In this capacity, he was responsible for the strategic direction and global operations of three of the world's most prominent fast-food chains. During his leadership, RBI managed a combined system of tens of thousands of restaurants across more than 100 countries. His role required balancing the distinct identities and market positions of each brand while pursuing the company's broader goals of international growth and operational efficiency.

As CEO, Cil oversaw efforts to modernize and expand the Burger King brand globally, strengthen Tim Hortons' position in the Canadian market and beyond, and build on the momentum of Popeyes, which experienced a notable surge in popularity. The company's franchise-heavy model, in which the vast majority of restaurants are operated by independent franchisees, was a central element of RBI's growth strategy under Cil's leadership.

Cil's tenure at RBI established him as one of the most prominent executives in the global quick-service restaurant industry. His experience managing multiple large-scale brands across diverse international markets positioned him as a sought-after leader in the consumer and restaurant sectors.

Transition to JAB Holding Company

Following his departure from Restaurant Brands International, Cil joined JAB Holding Company, a Luxembourg-based private investment firm with a large portfolio of consumer brands. JAB Holding is the controlling shareholder of a number of major consumer companies, including Panera Brands, Pret a Manger, Coty Inc., and various coffee and beverage businesses. The firm has been one of the most active investors in the global restaurant, coffee, and consumer goods sectors over the past decade.

Cil joined JAB earlier in 2025, initially taking on a role focused on the firm's restaurant and consumer brand investments. His appointment was seen as a significant addition to JAB's leadership team, given his extensive experience in managing global restaurant operations at scale.

Chairman of Panera Brands

In May 2025, Panera Brands appointed Cil as the chairman of its board of directors. Panera Brands is the parent company of Panera Bread, the fast-casual restaurant chain with thousands of locations across the United States and Canada, as well as other concepts within JAB's restaurant portfolio. The appointment came as part of a broader restructuring of Panera Brands' board, which saw the addition of six other new members alongside Cil.

In his role as chairman, Cil was tasked with working closely with Panera's leadership team to drive the company's growth and strategic direction. The move was part of JAB Holding's broader effort to strengthen governance and operational oversight across its restaurant brands, which had faced various challenges in the competitive fast-casual and quick-service markets.

Reporting on the appointment indicated that Cil's mandate extended beyond Panera Bread itself. According to The Wall Street Journal, Cil was picked to oversee not only Panera but also other restaurant chains owned by JAB, including Pret a Manger, the British multinational sandwich shop chain with hundreds of locations across 19 countries. Pret a Manger, which JAB acquired in 2018, operates locations in the United Kingdom, the United States, and numerous other countries, and is led by CEO Pano Christou.

The Verdict Food Service publication noted that Cil's appointment reflected Panera Brands' intent to leverage his "extensive experience in the restaurant industry" to navigate a period of transformation for the company.

Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer at JAB

On November 3, 2025, JAB Holding Company announced that it had appointed Cil as a Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer. The promotion came approximately five months after Cil had initially joined the firm and assumed the Panera Brands chairmanship.

In this elevated role, Cil assumed responsibility for overseeing JAB's entire portfolio of consumer-facing brands. This portfolio encompasses a broad range of companies across the restaurant, café, coffee, and beauty sectors. JAB is the controlling shareholder of Coty Inc., a global beauty company, in addition to its restaurant holdings.

The Business Wire announcement stated that Cil's appointment underscored JAB's commitment to strengthening its consumer brand portfolio and leveraging experienced operational leadership to drive performance across its holdings. The World Coffee Portal reported that the appointment positioned Cil to lead JAB's portfolio of global café chains and restaurant concepts, a significant mandate given the scale and international reach of brands such as Pret a Manger, Panera Bread, and others within the JAB ecosystem.

Cil's rapid elevation within JAB—from new joiner to Senior Partner within months—reflected the firm's confidence in his ability to provide strategic and operational leadership across a diverse set of consumer businesses. His background in managing multi-brand, multi-country restaurant platforms at RBI was considered directly applicable to the challenges facing JAB's consumer portfolio, which spans numerous geographies and market segments.

Oversight of Pret a Manger

As part of his responsibilities at JAB Holding Company, Cil assumed oversight of Pret a Manger, the British multinational sandwich shop chain. Pret a Manger was founded in London in 1983 by Jeffrey Hyman and was later developed by Julian Metcalfe and Sinclair Beecham. The chain, which specializes in sandwiches, salads, soups, coffees, and snacks, had grown into an international operation with locations across 19 countries and territories.

JAB Holding Company acquired Pret a Manger in 2018, purchasing the chain from the private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital. Under JAB's ownership, Pret continued its international expansion, opening locations in new markets while maintaining its strong presence in the United Kingdom, particularly in London. The chain had previously been partly owned by McDonald's, which acquired a 33% stake in 2001 before selling it to Bridgepoint in 2008.

Cil's role in overseeing Pret a Manger placed him at the intersection of several key trends in the global food industry, including the expansion of fast-casual dining, the growth of international franchising, and evolving consumer preferences around fresh, convenient food options. Pret reported revenue of £790.1 million in 2022, with operating income of £52.1 million.

Recognition

Cil's appointment as chairman of Panera Brands and subsequent elevation to Senior Partner at JAB Holding Company were covered by major business and industry publications, including The Wall Street Journal, QSR Magazine, Restaurant Business Magazine, and World Coffee Portal. His career trajectory from operational roles at Restaurant Brands International to a senior investment and oversight position at one of the world's largest consumer-focused holding companies has been noted as reflective of a broader trend in which experienced restaurant industry operators are recruited by private equity firms to improve the performance of portfolio companies.

The breadth of Cil's responsibilities at JAB—spanning restaurant chains, café concepts, and consumer brands across multiple continents—has been cited by industry observers as one of the more expansive leadership mandates in the global consumer sector. His role overseeing brands such as Panera Bread, Pret a Manger, and others positions him as a central figure in the ongoing consolidation and professionalization of the global fast-casual and quick-service restaurant industries.