Wade Allen, chief digital officer of Chili’s and Maggiano’s owner Brinker International, has left the company after more than nine years.
Allen announced his departure Monday in a LinkedIn post. He gave no reason for leaving.
“While I don’t know where my next big adventure is just yet, I couldn’t be more excited about bringing my ‘A game’ to the next amazing opportunity,” he wrote.
Allen held a variety of roles at Dallas-based Brinker, starting as VP of customer engagement and digital innovation in 2014 and then SVP, chief digital and information officer in 2018.
In mid-2020, he became SVP, head of innovation and transformation, focusing on cutting-edge projects such as server robots, virtual brands and artificial intelligence.
Wade Allen / Photo courtesy of Brinker International
When new CEO Kevin Hochman took over in June 2022, he began pumping the brakes on some of those efforts as part of a back-to-basics approach at Chili’s. In October, Allen’s job title was changed to SVP, chief digital officer and head of off-premise.
It was part of a larger C-suite overhaul under Hochman that included a new CMO, chief people officer, VP of marketing and head of supply chain.
In his LinkedIn post, Allen thanked some of his “trusted mentors,” including former Brinker CEO Wyman Roberts, CFO Joe Taylor and Maggiano’s President Steve Provost.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am for the opportunity to have met, served, and led so many amazing people,” Allen wrote. “My life is truly better because of the education and experience I received at Brinker, working alongside the best of the best, everyday.”
Brinker did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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