Brinker elevates Aaron White to EVP and COO roles

Published 12/05/2025, 21:38
Brinker elevates Aaron White to EVP and COO roles

DALLAS - Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), the parent company of Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy, has promoted Aaron White to the role of Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief People Officer. White, a veteran at Brinker with a 29-year tenure, has been instrumental in the company’s operational and cultural development.

White’s promotion, effective immediately, places her at the helm of both Operations strategy and PeopleWorks for the restaurant brands. Her leadership aims to further enhance operational efficiency and the dining experience for guests, while also focusing on the welfare and culture of team members. White’s ascent from a server and bartender to the executive suite exemplifies her deep understanding of the company’s operations and culture. InvestingPro analysis reveals the company maintains a GREAT financial health score, with 15 analysts recently revising their earnings expectations upward, suggesting strong confidence in the company’s direction.

Kevin Hochman, CEO and President of Brinker, praised White’s strategic and unifying leadership, emphasizing her contribution to the company’s ongoing simplification efforts in its restaurants. Hochman expressed confidence that White’s expertise will make the jobs of operators more manageable and enjoyable, and keep the guest experience as a priority.

In April 2025, White’s influence on Brinker’s culture and organizational transformation was recognized when she was named to the Nation’s Restaurant News Power List: Women in Foodservice.

Brinker International, founded with the opening of its first Chili’s location in Dallas in 1975, now encompasses over 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two U.S. territories. The company prides itself on delivering bold flavors, handcrafted drinks, and genuine hospitality. With EBITDA of $688.8 million and an impressive 132.88% stock return over the past year, Brinker continues to demonstrate strong market performance. For detailed analysis and additional insights, investors can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report available on InvestingPro.

White will continue to report to Hochman in her expanded role, as Brinker looks to its future growth and the ongoing evolution of its restaurant operations. This announcement is based on a press release statement from Brinker International.

In other recent news, Brinker International Inc. reported strong financial results for the first quarter of 2025, surpassing both earnings and revenue forecasts. The company achieved an earnings per share of $2.66, exceeding the forecast of $2.49, and reported a revenue of $1.43 billion, which was $60 million above expectations. These results were driven by a 28.2% increase in consolidated comparable sales, with Chili’s reporting a notable 31.6% rise. Despite these achievements, Brinker’s stock experienced a decline in pre-market trading. In other developments, S&P Global Ratings upgraded Brinker International’s credit rating to ’BB+’ from ’BB-’, citing the company’s strong sales growth and successful debt reduction. The company’s adjusted debt to EBITDA ratio was lowered to 2.0x, with expectations to reduce leverage further by the end of fiscal 2025. Brinker’s geographic footprint, with a significant presence in Texas, Florida, and California, has proven advantageous despite industry challenges. The company’s operational improvements, including menu simplification and marketing initiatives, have contributed significantly to its recent success.

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