Einstein Bros. Bagels Appointed Three New Executives
The bakery chain named new leadership to oversee its expansion plans across the United States.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in People
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Einstein Bros. Bagels has appointed Patrick Waldron as Chief Development Officer, Shawna Fehrman-Lee as Chief People Officer, and Will Evans as Chief Financial Officer. These leaders will oversee strategies to support the brand's goal of opening 300 new bakeries.
Why it matters
The company is making these executive changes to facilitate rapid growth as it targets a milestone of 1,000 locations nationwide. This expansion strategy aims to capture a greater share of the $5.8 billion U.S. bagel market.
The U.S. bagel market is valued at approximately $5.8 billion. Einstein Bros. Bagels plans to open 300 bakeries over the next three years to reach a target of 1,000 total locations.
The players
Patrick Waldron
He is the new Chief Development Officer who previously served as director of business operations for Amazon's Worldwide Grocery business.
Shawna Fehrman-Lee
The new Chief People Officer previously served as the global VP of people at HelloFresh for nearly a decade.
Will Evans
He is the incoming Chief Financial Officer who previously held the same role at La Colombe and Alvarado Restaurant Nation.
Einstein Bros. Bagels
It is a national bakery chain that is currently undergoing a strategic expansion phase to reach 1,000 total bakeries.
The details
Patrick Waldron, formerly of Amazon, will lead development initiatives, while Shawna Fehrman-Lee and Will Evans join to manage people and financial operations. Together, the team is tasked with scaling the business infrastructure to accommodate the planned addition of 300 bakeries.
Timeline
Einstein Bros. Bagels announced the appointments in September 2026.
The company plans to open 300 new bakeries over the next three years.
Market Landscape
The company's push toward the 1,000-bakery mark reflects a broader trend of consolidation and expansion within the $5.8 billion U.S. bagel market. These leadership additions position the chain to better compete for national market share against existing quick-service rivals.
While the executive changes focus on internal operations, customers may see an increase in bakery availability as the brand executes its three-year expansion plan. The company intends to maintain its market presence by scaling its physical footprint to more neighborhoods.
The takeaway
The appointment of three new executives signals a significant scaling effort for the brand. Strategic leadership hires are often the first step for restaurant chains looking to successfully execute large-scale site development and workforce management.
Further reading
Find more updates on industry leadership and organizational changes in the United States People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Snackandbakery.
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