Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) announced that Mark Graff will become its Chief Financial Officer, effective May 4 2026. Graff succeeds interim CFO Chris Meyer, who stepped in after former CFO Todd Wilson departed in December 2025.
Graff brings more than a decade of experience in the restaurant industry, most recently serving as President of Bonefish Grill and Fine Dining at Bloomin' Brands, where he oversaw a $900 million business across more than 220 restaurants. His compensation package includes a $500,000 annual base salary, a bonus target of 75 % of salary, and an equity award targeting 120 % of salary for 2026.
Red Robin has been executing a comprehensive turnaround under its First Choice plan, which focuses on operational efficiencies, restaurant‑level financial performance, food quality, and guest‑facing culture. The company’s Q4 2025 earnings showed a diluted EPS of –$0.41 versus an estimate of –$0.28, while revenue of $269.04 million beat estimates of $264.26 million. In Q1 2025, total revenue rose to $392.4 million and net income turned positive at $1.2 million after a loss the previous year, with comparable restaurant revenue increasing 3.1 %. Gross profit margin for the last twelve months was 14 %, and the company has been working to strengthen its balance sheet and reduce debt.
The First Choice plan builds on the earlier North Star initiative and includes refranchising efforts, investments in restaurant facilities and technology, and a renewed focus on operational excellence. Graff’s appointment is intended to reinforce the financial strategy that underpins these initiatives, ensuring disciplined capital allocation, cost control, and the ability to scale the turnaround.
President and CEO Dave Pace said, 'The appointment of Mark Graff represents an important step forward for our organization. With his experience in financial strategy and operational excellence, Mark will play a key role in shaping our future and advancing our strategic priorities.' He added, 'We look forward to the leadership and perspective he will bring as we continue to execute on our First Choice Plan.' Graff echoed the sentiment, stating, 'I'm honored to join Red Robin and look forward to partnering with the leadership team to maintain a strong focus on the company's financial foundation, support its strategic priorities and drive sustainable, long‑term growth.' Pace also noted, 'We are confident the First Choice plan will result in sustainable guest count growth, increased profitability and free cash flow generation, and a great work environment for our team members. We're not declaring victory, but delivering a sustainable recovery requires a clear strategy, coordinated tactics and engaged team and disciplined execution.'
With Graff’s track record of managing large restaurant portfolios and his focus on financial discipline, Red Robin expects the new CFO to accelerate the turnaround, improve margin performance, and strengthen the company’s balance sheet. His leadership is expected to support the First Choice plan’s objectives of driving guest traffic, enhancing operational efficiency, and delivering long‑term profitability.
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