Symposium 2008 Keynote Speakers:
Jon L. Luther
Dunkin' Brands
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Jon L. Luther was named chief executive officer of Dunkin' Brands in January 2003 and chairman in March 2006. A veteran of the food-service industry, Jon is a proven leader at creative brand development and at satisfying consumers who seek quality, convenience, and value in a quick service restaurant setting. From February 1997 until December 2002, Jon was president of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, a division of AFC Enterprises. During his term, the company's store count grew 67 percent to 1,672 units, while average annual unit volume grew to over $1 million, the highest in the chicken QSR category. With Jon at the helm, Popeyes won industry awards for menu strategy, store re-design, and customer satisfaction.
Prior to Popeyes, Jon was president of CA One Services, a subsidiary of Delaware North Companies, Inc. He has also held leadership positions in the contract foodservice division of the Marriott Corporation and at ARAMARK in Philadelphia, PA., where he rose from vending sales director to become president of Davre’s, ARAMARK’s luxury restaurant subsidiary. Jon also founded Benchmark Services, Inc., a foodservice management firm specializing in business dining for corporations, growing the business into a strong regional competitor.
Jon holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Paul Smith’s College, and honorary doctorate degrees from Bentley College and Johnson & Wales University. He supports culinary and foodservice programs at a variety of institutions, including serving on the Board of Directors for The Elliot Leadership Institute and the Board of Trustees for the Culinary Institute of America. In addition, Jon is on the Board of Trustees at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., and on the Executive Board of Directors for the Companions in Courage Foundation, which builds interactive playrooms in children's hospitals throughout North America.
In 2005, Jon was the recipient of the Nation’s Restaurant News Golden Chain award, and in 2006, he received the Chain Leadership award from Chain Leader magazine.
Anne Finucane
Bank of America Corporation
Chief Marketing Officer & President, Northeast
Anne Finucane is Bank of America’s Chief Marketing Officer, responsible for overseeing the Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs group and advancing and defending the company’s interests, image and reputation. The business units that comprise Global Marketing & Corporate Affairs are: Advertising and Customer Research; Brand Management; Global Sponsorship Marketing; Public Policy; Corporate Communications; the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, one of the largest corporate philanthropic organizations in the world, delivering $200 million in charitable funding to local neighborhoods across the United States, Europe and China in 2007; and the Market Presidents organization, a corporate-wide network of senior executives responsible for market leadership and business development. In addition, Ms. Finucane serves as President, Northeast, with oversight for market leadership and setting the overall corporation’s brand efforts in the region; is the managing director of Bank of America’s Political Action Committee (PAC); chairs the Bank of America Environmental Council; and serves as a member of the corporation’s Management Operating Committee.
A veteran marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of experience, Ms. Finucane joined Bank of America predecessor FleetBoston Financial in 1995. While at Fleet, she served as Chief Marketing Officer. She was a member of Fleet’s executive management committee, chairperson of FleetBoston Financial Charitable Foundation, and a Board member of Fleet Credit Card Services.
Prior to joining Fleet, Ms. Finucane operated her own consulting firm, after holding a number of executive positions during her 14-year tenure at Hill, Holliday, Connors, Cosmopulos, Inc., New England’s largest advertising agency. At Hill Holliday Ms. Finucane served as executive vice president, director of corporate development; director of account management; and earlier as director of creative services and broadcast. Before joining Hill, Holliday, she served as director of creative services at WBZ-TV in Boston. She launched her career in communications in the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs, City of Boston as a public information officer.
Ms. Finucane serves on the boards of Carnegie Hall, The Ad Council, the International Center of Journalists, New York Literacy Partners, The American Ireland Fund, the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation, and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. She has won numerous awards and recognition both for her contributions to the community, as well as her professional contributions in financial services and marketing.
Ms. Finucane resides in Lincoln, Massachusetts, with her husband, columnist Mike Barnicle, and their children.