FEATURED ARTICLE

Panera CEO: Going private is competitive plus

By Eve Tahmincioglu

“Being private is a point of competitive advantage,” declared Panera Chairman and CEO Ron Shaich  on CNBC earlier this week. 

The statement came on the heels of  news Panera was being bought by JAB Holding  Company – a privately held family firm that owns a diverse host of brands including Krispy Kreme and upscale Jimmy Choos –for $7.2 billion.

Going private isn’t unusual.  Panera adds its name to  a long list including Dell and Burger King, to name a few. 

The allure of being private may be one reason for the decline in initial public offerings and the overall number of publicly traded firms.

PRIVATE COMPANY GOVERNANCE SUMMIT
The Evolving Role of the Private Board 

Come hear from some of the top minds in the private company governance space share their insights on the nuts and bolts of creating effective boards. You'll get actionable advice on private boards, everything from board composition to risk management to cyber security.
 
Join Directors & Boards, Family Business Magazine and Private Company Director at the Private Company Governance Summit 2017, May 10-12, 2017 at the Swissotel, Chicago, IL. Owners, shareholders and board members of privately-held companies are invited to learn and network. 

OTHER PERSPECTIVES

Crisis Rules for Private Company Directors

By Private Company Director

The United Airlines backlash has gotten many companies – public and private – thinking about how they’d deal with a public relations crisis of such a grand scale.

Here are 11 crisis rules for private company board directors from  Temin and Company.

1. The buck stops with you: Deny denial.

2. Become the guardian of the company’s reputation.

3. Help your company see clearly; don’t let the company’s

first response be naïve or a lie.

4. Proactivity is needed before, during and after a crisis.