Story
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino to Step Down; David Deno Named Successor
Summary
Cracker Barrel has named restaurant industry veteran David Deno as its next CEO, replacing Julie Masino who is stepping down after three years. The change follows a tumultuous period for the company, which faced a significant customer backlash over a branding change last year.
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store announced on Monday that President and CEO Julie Masino will step down from her role, effective August 10. The restaurant chain has appointed industry veteran David Deno to take over as its new chief executive.
Leadership Transition Details
According to the company's statement, Ms. Masino, who held the CEO position for approximately three years, will remain with Cracker Barrel in an advisory capacity until October 9 to ensure a smooth transition.
Her successor, David Deno, most recently served as the CEO of Bloomin' Brands, the parent company of restaurant chains including Outback Steakhouse. His resume also includes senior leadership positions at electronics retailer Best Buy and Yum Brands, the operator of KFC and Taco Bell.
Context of the Change
The leadership change follows a turbulent period for the brand. In August 2025, Cracker Barrel faced a significant public backlash after announcing a plan to modernize its logo and store layouts. The proposed changes included replacing its decades-old "Uncle Herschel" signage, a move that drew sharp criticism from conservative customers.
AdIn response to the controversy, the company reversed its decision, abandoning the new logo and the plan for a more modern store layout. In September 2025, Cracker Barrel acknowledged that the backlash had negatively impacted store traffic and issued an annual revenue forecast that fell below analyst estimates.
Financial Performance and Market Reaction
The company's stock performance has reflected this volatility. After falling nearly 52% in 2025, Cracker Barrel's shares have doubled in value so far in 2026. Following Monday's announcement, the stock was trading down approximately 4%.
More recently, the company reported positive operational news. Last week, Cracker Barrel announced it had divested part of its Maple Street Biscuit business and stated it expects to exceed its core profit outlook for the 2026 fiscal year.
Read next
More on Stocks
European Telecoms Face AI-Driven Price Pressure, Bank of America Warns
Bank of America analysts report that while AI agents could increase customer churn for European telecom operators by simplifying price comparisons, the technology also offers powerful tools for sales and personalized customer retention.
ShinyHunters Hackers Renew Attacks on Oracle PeopleSoft Flaw, Google's Mandiant Reports
Google's cybersecurity unit, Mandiant, reports that the hacking group ShinyHunters has resumed and adapted its exploitation of a known vulnerability in Oracle's PeopleSoft enterprise software, targeting organizations that failed to apply a full security patch.
Manulife Stock Climbs, Supported by Cross-Border Investor Optimism
Shares of Manulife Financial gained on Tuesday, buoyed by a strong performance in U.S. markets rather than any specific company news. The stock's move is also supported by a bullish technical posture and positive analyst ratings.
Escondida Union Rejects BHP's Bid to Pause Talks After Fatal Accident
A union at the world's largest copper mine, Escondida, has rejected a request from operator BHP to postpone contract negotiations following a fatal accident earlier this week. The union accused the company of using the tragedy to delay the collective bargaining process.