- Push-out Score determined
- After around nine years in the position
- Praise and thanks for Roberts
- Kevin Hochman taking over
- Roberts said 78 words
(exechange) — Dallas, Texas, May 16, 2022 — Wyman Roberts, chief executive of Brinker, leaves. As announced by Brinker International Inc. in a news release and in a regulatory filing published on Monday, May 16, 2022, Wyman T. Roberts leaves his post as chief executive officer at the casual dining restaurant company, after around nine years in the role, effective June 5, 2022.
Wyman Roberts’s duties as CEO will be taken over by Kevin Hochman, most recently President and Chief Concept Officer at KFC U.S., a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc.
The fact that Wyman Roberts’s successor is brought in from outside suggests that the board may seek to stimulate change with fresh ideas and new initiatives.
In general, an outsider does not have the constraints of an insider when it comes to leading painful changes or making unpopular decisions.
“Accelerate growth”
Brinker did not give an explicit reason for Wyman Roberts’s departure from the CEO post. Hochman said: “I look forward to working with our Brinker team to accelerate growth by creating lasting and more frequent connections with our Guests and Team Members.”
Precise information regarding Wyman Roberts’s future plans was not immediately available.
“Retire”
Brinker said: “Wyman Roberts will retire as Chief Executive Officer and President of the company, President of Chili’s® Grill & Bar and as a member of the Board of Directors effective June 5, 2022.”
Brinker further said: “Wyman T. Roberts, Chief Executive Officer and President, President of Chili’s Grill & Bar and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), will retire as CEO and President of the Company and President of Chili’s Grill & Bar and resign from the Board effective as of June 5, 2022.”
Share price decline since May 2021
The announcement follows a decline in Brinker International Inc.’s share price of 48% since May 2021.
In the position of CEO since 2013
Wyman Roberts became CEO of the Company in 2013.
Roberts will continue to serve the company in an advisory role for 12 months as part of the company’s succession plan.
Roberts is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, having been appointed to this position in January 2013, and is also President of Chili’s Grill & Bar, having been appointed to this position in September 2018.
Roberts previously served as President of Chili’s Grill & Bar from November 2009 to June 2016, and in various other executive roles from August 2005 to October 2009, including President of Maggiano’s Little Italy and Chief Marketing Officer.
Roberts served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for NBC’s Universal Parks & Resorts from December 2000 until August 2005.
Roberts was previously employed by Darden Restaurants, Inc. for 16 years where he reached the role of Executive Vice President, Marketing. Roberts currently sits on the Board of Directors of SP Plus Corporation.
Push-out Score determined
The Push-out Score™ determined by exechange gauges the pressure surrounding Wyman Roberts’s move on a scale of 0 to 10.
exechange reached out to Brinker and offered the company the opportunity to comment on the score.
Read the full story in the exechange report 21.2022 ($).