Social media customers are in awe of the CEO of Pret A Supervisor’s job historical past, as he labored his approach up the company ladder from McDonald’s.
Pano Christou got here from a humble background in Tooting, South London the place his half-Greek, half Italian father labored as a minicab driver and his mom was a nurse from Cyprus.
The married father-of-two left college at 16 and labored at McDonald’s on a low wage. He has since gone on to affix Pret, rising by way of the ranks and ultimately turning into CEO of the excessive road espresso chain.
In a latest Twitter submit, Mr Christou’s Linkedin profile has gone viral, displaying 14 totally different positions and varied supervisor roles throughout his time at McDonald’s and Pret.
The CEO of Pret A Supervisor Pano Christou got here from humble origins and labored at McDonald’s for simply £2.75 an hour however now rakes in £400,000 a 12 months
The CEO’s Linkedin profile reveals he has had 10 totally different positions on the firm, together with Basic Supervisor and Head of Operations
Mr Christou’s Linkedin profile (pictured) has gone viral on Twitter, and customers are in awe of his expertise
His job description revealed he spent a complete of 5 years and two months on the McDonald’s Company working as a ground supervisor, assistant supervisor and retailer supervisor.
Mr Christou even endured a quick seven-month stint on the since-closed video retailer Blockbuster, however jumped ship lengthy earlier than it sank in 2000. Blockbuster closed all its UK shops in December 2013.
He joined Pret as an assistant supervisor in 2000 on the age of twenty-two and after almost twenty years on the firm, turned CEO in October 2019.
His Linkedin profile reveals he has had 10 totally different positions on the firm, together with 4 years and a pair of months as a Basic Supervisor and three years 2 months as Head of Operations.
Mr Christou turned the corporate’s third CEO following Julian Metcalfe and his mentor Clive Schlee, who was chief government for 18 years.
His wage stands at £400,000 a 12 months, lengthy off the £2.75 an hour he made on the McDonald’s ground.
The chain boasts 448 and 121 abroad retailers throughout the UK, and Mr Christou hopes to show the franchise world and plans to double in dimension by 2026.
However the Pret boss nonetheless thinks his staff ought to be paid pretty, he advised The Mirror: ‘When you pay folks what they need to be paid, you should not have a employees drawback. I need us to pay greater than the competitors.’
Mr Christou joined Pret at aged 22 in 2000 as an assistant supervisor, and after twenty years on the firm turned CEO
Pret has not too long ago introduced its new Autumn menu, with 26 seasonal gadgets provided together with the wanted Pumpkin Spiced Latte
Pret introduced in March 2023 that it was giving employees a 3rd pay rise inside a 12 months, with baristas capable of earn from £11.80 as much as £14.10 an hour relying on location and expertise.
It isn’t solely Mr Christou’s profession which thrived at Pret, it is also the place he met his spouse Vanessa – a fellow worker who additionally labored her approach up from the store ground.
Because it was posted, Mr Christou’s job historical past has been considered 1.4 million occasions and has almost 100 feedback.
One particular person wrote: ‘Variety of expertise is kind of essential,’ one other added: ‘Fairly unbelievable.’
A 3rd particular person wrote: ‘So, so uncommon to see this occur. Good for them.’
A fourth added: ‘I want corporations rewarded loyalty and inspired folks to maneuver up the ranks reasonably than helicoptering in new faces every time there is a enterprise panic.’
Earlier this month, Prince William met with Mr Christou when he made a suprise go to to a Pret A Manger in Bournemouth.
The Prince of Wales was chatting with employees and managers on the Pret café as a part of his main marketing campaign to finish homelessness. He has set his sights on making tough sleeping, couch browsing and different types of non permanent lodging a factor of the previous together with his initiative known as Homewards.
Twitter customers have been in awe of Mr Christou’s in depth job historical past saying it’s ‘uncommon to see’
The viral tweet has raked in 1.4 million views and customers flooded the feedback to reward the CEO
One particular person stated that they had ‘chills’ at Mr Christou’s 20-year climb to the highest of the ladder
The Prince of Wales laughs with CEO Pano Christou throughout a go to to a Pret A Manger retailer in Bournemouth, Dorset
His journey targeted on the enterprise sector’s position in stopping and tackling homelessness and checked out how the chain’s Pret Basis is increasing its ‘Rising Stars’ programme to help folks experiencing or prone to homelessness into jobs at its shops.
Alongside Mr Christou, William met a small group of staff who’ve been supported by way of the programme and assist them with meals preparation within the kitchen.
Following the royal go to, Mr Christou stated: ‘Since we began The Pret Basis nearly 30 years in the past, we have labored onerous to present folks going through homelessness very important help, coaching and employment alternatives, together with by way of our Rising Stars programme.
‘However nobody can repair this drawback alone. That is why we’re so proud and honoured to be working with Homewards and His Royal Highness to take Rising Stars even additional. We are going to proceed to do every little thing we will as a enterprise to assist sort out this concern and provides folks new alternatives wherever we will.’
Prince William’s journey targeted on how the chain’s Pret Basis is increasing its ‘Rising Stars’ programme to help folks experiencing or prone to homelessness into jobs at its shops
Alongside Mr Christou, Prince William met a small group of staff who’ve been supported by way of the programme and assist them with meals preparation within the kitchen
Pret has not too long ago introduced its new Autumn menu, which provides 26 further gadgets on the menu, together with soups, bakes, toasties and a desert assortment.
Clients can get their arms on the long-awaited Pumpkin Spiced Latte, and may even request an iced possibility for the seasonal drink.
The British chain has varied new savoury choices, together with the Layered and Loaded Chilli Rooster Nachos, the Italian Type Rooster and Basil Scorching Wrap and the BBQ Pulled Pork and Pickles Scorching Ciabatta.
Followers of the espresso chain can sit up for many extra foods and drinks gadgets together with Pret’s brand-new scorching Chocolate Chai.