Christopher Pappas has been leading The Chef's Warehouse since 1985. He co-founded the company, which is key in the foodservice distribution industry. Pappas has an educational background with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University. His career has...

Christopher Pappas has been leading The Chef's Warehouse since 1985. He co-founded the company, which is key in the foodservice distribution industry. Pappas has an educational background with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Adelphi University. His career has also included professional basketball in Europe before diving into the food business. Under his leadership, the company has grown, focusing on product procurement and strategic development. This year, he earned over $5 million but didn’t receive any bonuses. Instead, his earnings mainly came from stock options and vested shares. Interestingly, Pappas has a significant stake in the company, owning over 3 million shares, which aligns his interests directly with those of the shareholders. He has made strategic moves to increase executive compensation tied to performance, reflecting his commitment to aligning pay with achievement. His long-term vision is about retention and performance, showing he values growth over just quick wins. Besides his leadership role, he’s involved in big decisions that shape the company's future in the competitive food industry.