Red Robin expands board to eight, adds former Subway operations chief Michael Kappitt as independent director
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 24. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) expanded its board from seven to eight members and appointed Michael Kappitt to fill the resulting vacancy, the Englewood, Colorado-based restaurant company disclosed in a Form 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 2026. The board took the action on July 17.
Key takeaways
- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers expanded its board from seven to eight members and appointed Michael Kappitt to fill the new vacancy, effective July 24, 2026.
- Kappitt qualifies as an independent director under Nasdaq listing standards and will not serve on any board committees at this time.
- Kappitt most recently served as Chief Operating and Insights Officer at Subway from March 2020 through August 2025.
- Before Subway, Kappitt held leadership roles at Bloomin' Brands from 2011 to 2020, including Global Chief Marketing Officer and President of Carrabba's Italian Grill.
- Kappitt is set to serve as a director through Red Robin's 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 24. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) expanded its board from seven to eight members and appointed Michael Kappitt to fill the resulting vacancy, the Englewood, Colorado-based restaurant company disclosed in a Form 8-K/A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 24, 2026. The board took the action on July 17.
The appointment and governance terms
Kappitt's directorship took effect July 24, 2026. He is set to serve through the 2027 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or until his successor is duly elected and qualified, or until the earlier of his death, resignation, or removal, the filing states.
Red Robin's board determined that Kappitt qualifies as an independent director under Nasdaq listing standards. He will not sit on any board committees at this time.
Compensation follows the company's standard non-employee director policies, described in the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A that Red Robin filed with the SEC on March 26, 2026. The company disclosed no transactions between Kappitt and Red Robin requiring disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K. Kappitt was not selected through any arrangement or understanding with any other person, according to the filing.
The Form 8-K/A is Amendment No. 1 to an earlier current report covering the same July 17 event date.
Kappitt's career in restaurant operations
Kappitt most recently served as Chief Operating and Insights Officer at Subway, the global quick-service restaurant franchisor specializing in made-to-order sandwiches, from March 2020 through August 2025, a tenure of more than five years.
Before Subway, he held multiple leadership roles at Bloomin' Brands, Inc. from 2011 to 2020. He served as Global Chief Marketing Officer from December 2013 through February 2016, then as President of Carrabba's Italian Grill from February 2016 through February 2020.
The amended filing was signed by Mark Graff, Red Robin's Chief Financial Officer. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered at 10000 E. Geddes Avenue, Suite 500, Englewood, Colorado 80112. Its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol RRGB.