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): April 7, 2006

 

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.

 

(b)   Rebeca M. Johnson has been elected by the Board of Directors of Brinker International, Inc. (the “Company”) to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Brand Officer effective April 7, 2006. Ms. Johnson, 50, has served as Executive Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development since June 2005. Ms. Johnson previously served as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development since June 2004. Previously, Ms. Johnson worked at PepsiCo, Inc. for 16 years, most recently as Vice President of Marketing and General Manager for the Doritos and Cheetos brands for Frito Lay North America. Ms. Johnson is on the board of directors of the National Latina Leadership Institute.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)     Exhibits.

 

99  Press Release, dated April 11, 2006.

 

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: April 12, 2006	By:	/s/ Douglas H. Brooks
		Douglas H. Brooks, Chairman of the Board
		President and Chief Executive Officer

 

2

Exhibit 99

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:    Stacey Calbert, Media Relations (800) 775 - 7290

 

BRINKER INTERNATIONAL NAMES REBECA JOHNSON
CHIEF MARKETING AND BRAND OFFICER

 

DALLAS (April 11, 2006) — Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), one of the world’s leading casual dining restaurant companies, announced the promotion of Rebeca Johnson to Chief Marketing and Brand Officer.

 

This newly created position will showcase Johnson’s proven leadership in developing strategic marketing, branding and research initiatives for Brinker’s four restaurant brands: Chili’s Grill & Bar, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

 

Johnson joined Brinker in 2004 as Senior Vice Present of Marketing and Brand Development. She was promoted to Executive Vice President of Marketing and Brand Development in June 2005.

 

“Over the last two years, Becky has created a heightened awareness of consumer preferences across our enterprise,” said Doug Brooks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Brinker. “Through these efforts, she has enhanced our brands’ ability to continually innovate with new products and services that fulfill our customers’ desire for a great dining experience.”

 

Johnson’s previous experience includes 16 years with PepsiCo, where she served as Vice President of Marketing for the Doritos and Cheetos Brands for Frito Lay North America. She also served as Vice President of Multicultural Marketing, where she led a team that developed products and programs targeting Latino audiences through product development, merchandising, advertising and grass roots marketing. She began her marketing career with Ogilvy & Mather, working on accounts such as Shell Oil and Compaq.

 

Rebeca Johnson is on the board of directors of the National Latina Leadership Institute. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and received a bachelor’s degree in applied business administration from Dallas Baptist University. She also holds a graduate degree in marketing from Southern Methodist University and graduated from the Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School. She lives in Coppell, Texas, with her husband and three children.

 

Brinker International, Inc. 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 more than 1,500 restaurants in 24 countries and employs more than 100,000. Brinker restaurant brands include Chili’s Grill & Bar, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and Maggiano’s Little Italy. The company was named one of FORTUNE Magazine’s Most Admired Companies in 2006 and in 2005 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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