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Posted 26 January, 2024

Shake Shack Inc. appointed new CEO

CEO Change detected for ticker NYSE:SHAK in a 8-K filed on 26 January, 2024.


  On January 26, 2024, Shake Shack Inc. and SSE Holdings, LLC (collectively, the "Company") and Randall Garutti, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, entered into a Transition and Advisory Agreement (the "Transition and Advisory Agreement"). As previously disclosed, Mr. Garutti has informed the Company's Board of Directors that he will retire from the Company in 2024 as its Chief Executive Officer and as an executive Board member upon the selection of his successor, but that he will serve as an advisor following this time through the end of 2024 to ensure a proper transition.  

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Overview of Shake Shack Inc.
Leisure/Arts/Hospitality • Restaurants
Shake Shack, Inc. engages in the operation and licensing of Shake Shack restaurants which serve burgers, hot dogs, crinkle cut fries, shakes, frozen custard, beer, wine, and related products. The company was founded by Daniel Harris Meyer on September 23, 2014 and is headquartered in New York, NY.
Market Cap
$3.73B
View Company Details
Relevant filing section
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.


On January 26, 2024, Shake Shack Inc. and SSE Holdings, LLC (collectively, the "Company") and Randall Garutti, the Company's Chief Executive Officer, entered into a Transition and Advisory Agreement (the "Transition and Advisory Agreement"). As previously disclosed, Mr. Garutti has informed the Company's Board of Directors that he will retire from the Company in 2024 as its Chief Executive Officer and as an executive Board member upon the selection of his successor, but that he will serve as an advisor following this time through the end of 2024 to ensure a proper transition.


The terms of the Transition and Advisory Agreement supplement and, where noted, modify, the Amended and Restated Employment, entered into on October 23, 2018, between Mr. Garutti and the Company (the "Employment Agreement").


Pursuant to the Transition and Advisory Agreement, Mr. Garutti has agreed to serve as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and as an executive Board member until the earlier of the commencement of his successor's employment or May 24, 2024 (the "Resignation Date"). Mr. Garutti has also agreed in good faith not to resign without Good Reason (as defined in the Employment Agreement) prior to the Resignation Date. Through this time period, Mr. Garutti shall continue to receive all the rights and benefits set forth in Section 3 of the Employment Agreement, except that Mr. Garutti shall not be eligible for an Annual Equity Award for 2024, and notwithstanding anything in the Employment Agreement, Mr. Garutti shall receive a partial bonus for the first half of 2024 in an amount equal to the product of (A) the actual bonus that he would otherwise have been entitled to receive absent his termination of employment on the Resignation Date and (B) the ratio of (x) the number of days elapsed during the first half of 2024 through the Resignaton Date to (y) the number of days elapsed during the first half of 2024. In addition, if the Resignation Date occurs after March 16, 2024, as consideration for Mr. Garutti's continued employment services from and after March 17, 2024, the Company agrees to accelerate the vesting of the Restricted Units awarded to Mr. Garutti pursuant to the Company's Incentive Award Plan, as amended, that would have vested if Mr. Garutti was still employed by the Company through March 31, 2025 (the "Eligible RSUs").

 From and after the Resignation Date and, unless the parties agree otherwise, through May 24, 2024 (the "Special Advisory Period"), Mr. Garutti shall become a "Special Advisor". In such position, Mr. Garutti will make himself reasonably available to his successor, the Board, and the Company's management team as necessary to provide transition services reasonably requested by the incoming Chief Executive Officer and the Board to facilitate a smooth transition of job responsibilities to his successor. If the Special Advisory Period begins on March 17, 2024, as full payment for Mr. Garutti's services after the Resignation Date and during the Special Advisory Period, the Company agrees to accelerate the Eligible RSUs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Resignation Date occurs on March 16, 2024, the Board may determine, in its discretion, whether or not to engage Mr. Garutti as a Special Advisor.


Following the Special Advisory Period (or, if none, following the Resignation Date) and through the end of 2024, Mr. Garutti shall make himself available as an "Advisor" to his successor and the Chairman of the Board in the same capacity that members of the Board currently serve the Chief Executive Officer. As full payment for Mr. Garutti's services as an Advisor, the Company shall pay Mr. Garutti a monthly fee (pro-rated), which is equivalent to the monthly fee payable to the Company's directors.


As previously disclosed, Mr. Garutti's decision to resign is not the result of any dispute or disagreement with the Company or its Board.


A copy of the Transition and Advisory Agreement is filed as Exhibit 10.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The summary of the Transition and Advisory Agreement is qualified in its entirety by the Transition and Advisory Agreement.