Cracker Barrel CEO stepping down: Julie Masino will exit as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board of Directors, effective August 10, 2026, the company announced, ending a three-year tenure marked by a rebranding push that drew significant political backlash, according to the Wall Street Journal and a press release from Cracker Barrel. She will be succeeded by David Deno, most recently CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse.
Deno has been appointed to serve as the company’s next CEO and will join the Board of Directors, both effective the same date, according to the official announcement from Cracker Barrel’s investor relations site. Masino will remain with the company in an advisory capacity through October 9, 2026, to support the transition, the company said. The Wall Street Journal reported that Masino’s exit comes with a $4.6 million payout.
The leadership change follows a “comprehensive succession planning and search process,” Cracker Barrel said in its statement. Independent Chairman of the Board Carl Berquist said the company was “pleased to welcome David as Cracker Barrel’s next CEO,” citing his “decades of experience across the restaurant and retail industries” and “demonstrated commitment to operational excellence, guest experience, and team member engagement.”
Berquist also thanked Masino “for her leadership and commitment to Cracker Barrel” and said the board appreciated “her partnership to ensure a smooth leadership transition,” while wishing her well in her future endeavors, according to the company’s statement.
Deno said in the same statement that Cracker Barrel is “a truly iconic American brand, defined by its unique combination of warm country hospitality, timeless appeal, and deep connection with guests across generations,” adding that he looks forward to “unlocking the full potential” of the brand while “driving profitable growth.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Masino’s tenure had promised significant changes to the family dining chain but placed the company at the center of a political controversy before she walked back some of her plans. She had sought to update the brand , which first opened in 1969 , for a younger generation of consumers, with initiatives that included remaking the chain’s folksy logo, removing antique decorative items from restaurant walls and changing the menu, the Journal reported.
Cracker Barrel shares were down 2.38% following the announcement, according to the Journal’s report.
Deno brings more than four decades of experience in the restaurant and retail sectors, according to the company’s official announcement. He served as CEO of Bloomin’ Brands (Nasdaq: BLMN) from 2019 to 2024, where the company said he strengthened its financial foundation and expanded its international presence. Prior to that, he served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 2012 to 2019, a period during which he led Bloomin’ Brands through its initial public offering.
Before joining Bloomin’ Brands, Deno served as President of Asia and Chief Financial Officer of the International Division at Best Buy, the company said. He also spent 15 years in senior operations and financial roles at Yum! Brands and Pizza Hut, including serving as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Yum! Brands and as CFO of Pizza Hut prior to its acquisition by Yum! Brands. He began his career in the restaurant industry at Burger King Corporation, according to the announcement. Deno currently serves on the boards of Krispy Kreme, Inc. and Panera Brands.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. operates approximately 660 company-owned locations across 43 states, according to the company’s official statement. The chain, headquartered in Lebanon, Tennessee, describes itself as rooted in “warmth, generosity, and tradition.”
The company has not disclosed additional details beyond the transition timeline and executive statements included in its announcement. Deno’s appointment and Masino’s departure both take effect August 10, 2026, with Masino’s advisory role concluding on October 9, 2026, according to the company’s official announcement.
The leadership change at Cracker Barrel adds to a broader run of high-profile executive transitions this year across sectors, a pattern also seen recently in South Africa, where David Masondo resigned as chair of the Public Investment Corporation.
I am Rukaiya Kadiwala, an experienced News Content Writer with 6+ years of expertise in hospitality, travel, hotel, restaurant, business, and lifestyle news. Skilled in writing, research, fact-checking, headline creation, and digital publishing, I create accurate, engaging, and high-quality content that informs and attracts readers worldwide.
