October 2010
Canada Colorado Association interview by Pierre G. Boissé
Jeff O’Neill
President and Chief Executive Officer
Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc.
I met Jeff at his office and we talked about so many things that it will be hard to resume. We talked about the fact that all of the Board members are purely on a volunteer basis but most importantly about Jeff’s career and visions, family, sports (with an emphasis on hockey) and a bit of religion and politics (not included). I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed my time with him. Pierre
Jeff began his career in Marketing with The Quaker Oats Company and held a variety of progressive positions in both marketing and sales in Canada before moving to the U.S. with Quaker in 1994, where he led the Quaker Wholesome Snacks Division as VP Marketing.
In 1999, Jeff joined Pepsi Co as President of Pepsi Cola Canada. Under Jeff’s leadership the company underwent a period of significant innovation and market share growth expanding their Brand presence in such well known areas as Aquafina Bottled Water, Starbucks Frappuccino and popular Line extensions of Brand Pepsi.
In 2002 PepsiCo acquired the Quaker Oats Company and Jeff returned to his old Company in Chicago to help lead the integration of the Quaker Oats/Gatorade acquisition.
In 2005 Jeff joined Priszm Income Fundas the President and COO. Priszm is a publicly traded Restaurant on the Toronto Stock Exchange with a portfolio of popular brands such as Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and is also one of the largest Independent KFC Franchisees in the World. In January 2008 Jeff was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Priszm.
In December of 2008 Jeff returned to the USA as President/CEO ofEinstein-Noah Restaurant Group a National Chain of Bagel Bakeries that is publicly traded on the NASDQ stock exchange with their Headquarters in Denver Colorado.
Throughout his career Jeff has been involved in numerous industry functions, including positions as an Executive member of the Consumer Products Council of Canada, Chair of the Canadian Soft drink Association and a Director of Corporations Supporting Recycling. He is currently a Director of Rocky Vista University, an Ostepathic Medical School located in Parker, Colorado.
Jeff holds an Honors Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of Ottawa. Outside of work, Jeff and his family enjoy hiking, biking and skiing.
Questions:
1. Where is your place of birth?
Brockville Ontario a small Town on the St Lawrence River in the Thousand Island area… but grew up in Ottawa.
2. Describe your family growing up.
A lot of sports (hockey, waterskiing, football and weekends at the Lake) I worked in my Fathers Road construction business from the age of 16 through University
3. Did you have a particular lifestyle growing up?
Very busy…with 4 siblings there was always action at our house with friends and family (travel hockey kept me busy in the winters and we were expected to keep up with our school work as a priority).
4. Tell me about your siblings?
An older brother and sister and a younger brother and sister… my older brother was CEO of Molson for 6 years at the time they sold to Coors.
5. What are/were your favorite activities/hobbies?
Love to ski and golf with my wife Joanne and our 3 children
6. What is your fondest memory?
I would say hanging out on weekends at the cottage waterskiing and playing tennis with friends and family around.
7. What are your family traditions?
With our own family it is Christmas in Beaver Creek skiing, midnight mass and a big family gathering on Christmas Day.
8. What are your favorite books?
I enjoy history books and just finished The Longest Winter about the Battle of the Bulge, as well as What the Dog Saw by a fellow Canadian Malcolm Gladwell. I always have about 4 books going at the same time…it’s a problem!
9. Where did you attend school?
I was playing hockey in Ottawa and working quite often for my Father’s company and so stayed in my home Town of Ottawa and went to the University of Ottawa (Until recently I sat on the Dean’s advisory council for the business school at UofO).
10. How did you meet your wife?
We were High school sweethearts and went to University together and got married shortly after graduating
11. How about your children?
Our oldest lives in Denver and works at a local Advertising Agency, our son has just graduated with his Masters in Journalism and is Interning with NPR in Washington and our youngest is in her final year of College at the Illinois Institute of Art getting her degree in Interior Design.
12. Describe your professional career history.
I started my career at the Quaker Oats Company in Brand Marketing, moved to the U.S. with Quaker in the early 90’s. Joined Pepsi Cola in the late 90’s as President of Pepsi in Canada…shortly after Pepsi bought Quaker and I went back to Chicago to help with the acquisition. Was also the President/CEO of KFC Canada for 3 years prior to accepting the CEO job with the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group in late 2008.
13. Tell me about your company.
We are the largest Bagel Bakery and one of the Top 200 Quick Service Restaurants chains in the United States with about 700 locations and 7500 employees. In addition to owning Einstein Bagels we also own Noah’s Bagels on the West Coast and Manhattan Bagels in the North East. We are just starting to Franchise our brand which is a very exciting time for our Company.
14. What is your proudest accomplishment?
I would say the day Diet Pepsi surpassed Diet Coke as the #1 Diet Cola in Canada (obviously a big day in the Pepsi world), and becoming CEO of such a high potential company like the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. But I am also very proud to see my kids develop into young adults working on their own careers.
15. When did you move to the US and what motivated the move?
Around 1992 a progressive move to advance my career opportunities in the Quaker Oats Company. I became the VP Marketing of the Whole Snacks Division (think Granola Bars!)
16. What is/was your biggest adaptation to the US?
I think it was the lack of an International perspective from the news…Canada carries a more global perspective than the USA in many ways when it comes to news coverage.
17. What do you miss most about Canada?
Being close to our Lake home CBC TV and Radio (especially Hockey Night in Canada).
18. What are you looking for in the future?
Building the Einstein Noah Restaurant Group into a great place to work in a fast paced environment. Building our home in Denver and the mountains.
19. How did you hear about the Canada Colorado Association?
Through an acquaintance at Pinehurst Country Club.
20. What do you like most about the Canada Colorado Association?
While we are new members I think it is the opportunity to connect with fellow Canadians and sharing our unique experiences both from our childhood and living in the beautiful state of Colorado.
