Nancy Antonacci
Nancy Antonacci is the loving and supportive wife of Ronald M. Shaich –the founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Panera Bread Company.
Nancy’s husband has spent more than 30-years in the food business, most have been spent on the fast casual restaurant company.
Shaich founded Au Bon Pain in 1981. The company went public in 1991, and was acquired in 1993 by St. Louis Bread Company—the predecessor to Panera. In 1999 the company sold Au Bon Pain to focus exclusively on Panera.
Shaich sold Panera to investment fund JAB Holdings last April, telling Fortune at the time, “I spend about 20% of my time explaining what I do and what I’m about to do,” he said. “I think being private, for Panera, doesn’t give us anything other than it frees us up.”
Shaich stepped down as CEO of Panera once before, leaving in 2010 and then returning to the top job in 2012 after realizing that he was still spending most of his time on the company. According to his website, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Clark University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.
He stepped down in November 2017, leaving Blaine Hurst as President and CEO of Panera Bread.
He and wife Nancy Antonacci have been married for years. Meet her below.
Nancy Andrea Antonacci was born to parents, Concetta and Luke Antonacci of Fort Lee, N.J. Her father was a lawyer and accountant in Hoboken, N.J.
The New Jersey native graduated from Academy of the Holy Angels. She attended Georgetown University, received a master’s degree in early childhood education from Columbia University and a Ph.D. in reading, language and learning disabilities from Harvard University.
She and Ron Shaich were married May 10, 1998, at the time Nancy was 38 and Ron 44-years-old. Since their nuptials the couple has welcomed two children, a son, Michael and a daughter, Emma.
Michael Shaich studies Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis.
58-year-old Nancy founded, Once Upon a Time Literature Center, an educational enrichment program in Newton, Mass. –where she also served as president. According to her LinkedIn, she is nowadays, listed as an Independent Writing and Editing Professional.
Nancy along with her husband have been involved in charitable events and philanthropic efforts. Last May, the Shaich family donated $5 million to Clark University to help boost the school’s ongoing $125 million comprehensive campaign.
Nancy Antonacci and her husband reside in Brookline, M.A.
