Cracker Barrel Old Country Store has named David Deno as its next Chief Executive Officer, effective 10 August 2026. Deno will also join the company's Board of Directors, bringing to the role a long career in restaurant operations and finance.
Deno most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, from 2019 to 2024, a period that included international expansion of the group. He had joined Bloomin' Brands in 2012 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, a tenure that included leading the company through its initial public offering. Earlier in his career he held senior finance and operations roles at Yum! Brands, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, and at Pizza Hut.
He succeeds Julie Masino, who steps down as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board on the same date. Masino, who joined Cracker Barrel in 2023 after serving as President, International of Taco Bell, will remain with the company in an advisory capacity until 9 October 2026 to support a smooth transition.
The leadership change comes after a demanding period for the chain, which operates country-style restaurants paired with retail gift stores and trades on the Nasdaq under the ticker CBRL. A contested brand refresh over the past year drew public attention and investor scrutiny, and the company has faced pressure to restore momentum at a time of cautious consumer spending in the United States casual dining sector.
That sector has contended with soft restaurant traffic and value conscious diners, pushing operators to sharpen menu pricing and store economics. Cracker Barrel's dual model of dining and retail gives it more revenue levers than a pure restaurant business, but also more complexity to manage across its many highway adjacent locations, where remodels and menu decisions carry meaningful capital implications.
In Deno the board has selected an operator whose experience is weighted toward turnaround discipline, multi-brand restaurant management and capital markets. His finance pedigree, including a completed initial public offering and chief financial roles at two large restaurant groups, positions him to focus on cost structure and returns as much as on brand direction. Investors will look to the incoming Chief Executive for clarity on remodels, menu strategy and capital allocation, while the defined transition, with Masino advising into October, is designed to avoid disruption as he sets priorities.
For Cracker Barrel, the appointment marks the beginning of a new chapter under a leader the board is betting can steady the business and restore its momentum.
