Key Takeaways

  • Jack in the Box announced in a press release on Wednesday that it has officially appointed Dawn Hooper as Chief Financial Officer. Hooper, a 25-year veteran of the company, has served as interim CFO on multiple occasions.
  • According to securities filings, Hooper, 54, has stepped in during CFO leadership transitions multiple times: she served as interim CFO from August 2020 to January 2021, again from February 2023 to August 2023, and most recently since October of last year.
  • The San Diego, California-based company has seen frequent executive changes recently. Lance Tucker abruptly transitioned to interim CEO in February, after being brought back late last year for a second term as CFO. Former CEO Darin Harris resigned to become CEO of Goddard Systems, a franchise management company. In March, Tucker was officially named CEO.

Deep Dive

The leadership change comes as the company advances its "asset-light" business model. Last month, the company announced it would close 150 to 200 underperforming locations. Like many fast-food chains, Jack in the Box is working to prevent a catastrophic decline in same-store sales, reviving its iconic suited clown mascot for a series of media campaigns and reinforcing its value message through the "Munchies Under $4" menu, as reported by CFO Dive's sister publication Restaurant Dive.

Dawn Hooper
Dawn Hooper
Image credit: Jack in the Box
 

Hooper has more than 30 years of experience in accounting and finance. Before joining Jack in the Box, she began her career at KPMG from 1993 to 2000. In addition to her multiple interim roles, she has served as Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller since December 2022.

According to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, Hooper officially assumed the role of CFO on May 26, with a salary of $620,000. The filing shows her target incentive potential under the company's annual performance incentive plan is 75% of base salary, and her annual long-term incentive (LTI) award is valued at $750,000.

Hooper's tenure at Jack in the Box has been publicly recognized by Tucker. In a statement accompanying this week's appointment announcement, Tucker said: "During my time with the company, including when I served as CFO from 2018 to 2020, I had the privilege of working with Hooper, and her guidance and partnership have been invaluable. She has played a critical role during the company's transformation, and the board and I have full confidence in her ability to lead our finance organization and execute the 'JACK on Track' plan and future strategies."

The company did not respond to requests for comment.