Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino steps down; David Deno to start Aug. 10

Julie Masino faced backlash online when the company tried to shed its old-timey image. David Deno, a former chief of Bloomin’ Brands, will take over.

Just when Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino seemed to be finally clawing her way back from last year’s logo debacle, the company announced on Monday she is stepping down. Masino, who joined Cracker Barrel in 2023, will be succeeded by David Deno, most recently the CEO of Bloomin’ Brands, which owns several dining restaurant chains including Outback Steakhouse. Shares in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL) were down over 5% midday on Monday at the time of this writing. Deno will start as CEO on August 10, while Masino will remain on the company’s board and “in an advisory capacity until October 9 to support a smooth transition.” “I look forward to unlocking the full potential of this remarkable brand,” Deno said in a statement. “Together, we will stay focused on delivering delicious food and exceptional experiences for our guests, while driving profitable growth.” In 2023, Masino joined the Southern country-themed restaurant chain after serving as Taco Bell’s president of international business. That year, the company announced a three-year transformation plan that would include a new menu, upgraded staff training, and a better loyalty program. Then in August 2025, Cracker Barrel released a new logo, which debuted to major criticism and triggered a massive backlash and a loss of nearly $100 million in market value as outraged customers took to social media and the internet, as Fast Company reported at the time. Less than 10 days later, Cracker Barrel reinstated the old logo. Since that time, Masino was able to helm a decent turnaround. In June, the company delivered strong fiscal 2026 third-quarter earnings, sending shares skyrocketing over 30% to levels not seen since September 2025. Total revenue came in at $797.4 million, beating analyst estimates of $776.7 million (for a total revenue decrease of 2.9%). Adjusted diluted earnings-per-share (EPS) came in at $0.29.

Masino will be replaced on Aug. 10 by David Deno, most recently the CEO of Bloomin' Brands.

David Deno, who led Bloomin' Brands from 2019 to 2024, will take over as chief executive on August 10