Leadership

Texas Roadhouse CMO S. Chris Jacobsen resigns

He had been with the chain for 20 years. No reason was given for his departure, and a replacement was not named.
Jacobsen had been CMO since 2016. | Photo: Shutterstock

Texas Roadhouse CMO S. Chris Jacobsen is resigning after 20 years with the steakhouse brand.

The news was announced Friday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

Jacobsen joined the 661-unit chain in 2003 and became VP of marketing in 2011. In 2016, he was promoted to CMO. 

Before Roadhouse, he worked in marketing at Papa Johns and Waffle House. 

The filing gave no reason for his departure, which was effective Thursday, nor did it name a replacement.

It did include details of Jacobsen’s separation agreement, which includes a rich parting gift. He’ll get $125,000, or approximately three months of his base salary, in weekly installments, as well as a one-time discretionary bonus of $288,805.

Louisville, Ky.-based Texas Roadhouse has been on a tear coming out of the pandemic. In its most recent quarter, same-store sales rose 9% on 4.7% traffic growth.

Unlike many of its casual-dining competitors, Roadhouse does not do any national advertising, opting instead to market to guests on the local level. 

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