SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 20, 2009

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

6820 LBJ Freeway

Dallas, Texas 75240

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  972-980-9917

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425).

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12).

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)).

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)).

 

 

 

Section 5 — Corporate Governance and Management

 

Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

 

On November 20, 2009, Registrant announced that, effective immediately, Todd Diener has stepped down as Executive Vice President and Chili’s Grill & Bar and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina President.

 

Wyman T. Roberts, 50, has been appointed, effective immediately, Chili’s Grill & Bar and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina President.  Mr. Roberts previously served as Senior Vice President, Maggiano’s Little Italy President, and Chief Marketing Officer since March 2009, as Senior Vice President and Maggiano’s Little Italy President since August 2005. Mr. Roberts previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for NBC’s Universal Parks & Resorts from December 2000 until August 2005. Mr. Roberts was previously employed by Darden Restaurants, Inc. for 16 years where he most recently served as Executive Vice President, Marketing.

 

Steve Provost, 49, has been appointed, effective immediately, Senior Vice President and Maggiano’s Little Italy President.  Mr. Provost previously served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Strategy for Maggiano’s Little Italy since April 2009.  Before joining the Registrant, Mr. Provost served as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Quizno’s Master, LLC from 2007 to 2009.  Mr. Provost was employed by Yum Brands, Inc. from 1991 to 2007, serving in various roles, most recently as Head Coach, Southeast Region for the KFC brand from 2003 to 2005 and Chief Marketing Officer for the Long John Silver’s and A&W brands.

 

Section 9 — Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

99 Press Release dated November 20, 2009.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

	BRINKER INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Date: November 20, 2009	By:	/s/ Douglas H. Brooks
		Douglas H. Brooks, Chairman of the Board
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2

EXHIBIT 99

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	Contact:	Media Relations
		(800) 775-7290

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL NAMES WYMAN ROBERTS PRESIDENT

OF CHILI’S GRILL & BAR AND ON THE BORDER MEXICAN GRILL & CANTINA

 

DALLAS (November 20, 2009) — Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), has named Wyman Roberts president of Chili’s Grill & Bar and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina. Roberts formerly served in a dual role as president of the Maggiano’s Little Italy brand and Chief Marketing Officer for Brinker.

 

“Four years of brand leadership experience at Maggiano’s coupled with recent culinary and marketing oversight of the Chili’s and On The Border teams have fully prepared Wyman to take over this role,” said Doug Brooks, CEO and President of Brinker International.

 

Prior to joining Brinker International in 2005, Roberts served as executive vice president and Chief Marketing Officer for NBC’s Universal Parks & Resorts, where he assisted in significant market share growth and a measurable increase in internet sales. Roberts is also a 17-year veteran of Darden Restaurants, Inc., where he held numerous senior level positions, including executive vice president of marketing for the Red Lobster brand.

 

Steve Provost has been named Roberts’ successor as president of Maggiano’s Little Italy. Previously, Provost served as senior vice president of marketing and brand strategy for Maggiano’s. Provost has almost two decades of restaurant and foodservice industry experience, including leadership roles in the fields of operations, franchising, marketing and innovation. He came to Brinker from Quizno’s Subs and Sandwiches, where he served as Chief Marketing Officer and executive vice president.

 

Effective immediately, Todd Diener has stepped down as President of Chili’s Grill & Bar and On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.

 

“Todd was a big part of Chili’s history and Brinker’s growth and we will miss him as both a leader and a friend,” said Doug Brooks.

 

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), is one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than 1 million guests daily. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchises nearly 1,700 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories, and employs more than 125,000. Brinker restaurant brands include Chili’s® Grill & Bar, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina® and Maggiano’s Little Italy®. Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano’s Macaroni Grill®. The company was named one of FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Food Service Companies in 2009 and was honored by the magazine as one of the Top 50 Employers for Minorities and the Top 50 Employers for Women. For more information, visit www.brinker.com.

 

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