New Executives Join JAB

Three consumer business veterans are joining JAB Holding Co. to play key roles in the Luxembourg-based coffee conglomerate’s expansion.

Fabien Simon will become Partner and Chief Financial Officer; he spent four years at JAB portfolio company Jacobs Douwe Egberts, where he oversaw the integration of Douwe Egberts and the coffee business of Mondelez to create JDE and lead its M&A strategy. Ricardo Rittes, a Brazilian national, has joined the JAB Partnership to lead expansion into emerging markets by opening a new office in Sao Paulo. Rittes joins JAB after 14 years in executive roles at Anheuser Busch Inbev. Jacek Szarzynski has become Lead Operating Partner for JAB’s newly created Pret Panera Holding Company, where he will be responsible for the overall long-term success of the platform. Jacek joins JAB after a 24-year career at Mars.

Peter Harf and Olivier Goudet will continue to lead JAB and oversee its investment strategy. JAB Holding Co.’s brand portfolio is comprised of a number of American companies, including Keurig Dr Pepper, Panera Bread, Pret A Manger, Peet's Coffee & Tea, Caribou Coffee Co., Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, and Espresso House, the largest branded coffee shop chain in Scandinavia.