Kura Sushi USA Announces Election of Claudia Schaefer to the Company’s Board of Directors

Rhea-AI Summary

Kura Sushi USA (NASDAQ: KRUS) announced that Claudia Schaefer was elected as an independent director effective January 21, 2026. In conjunction with Schaefer's election, Kim Ellis did not stand for re-election, also effective January 21, 2026. Schaefer is currently Chief Marketing Officer at Smoothie King and previously held senior marketing roles at Caliber Collision, Jamba Juice, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, and Brinker.

Management highlights Schaefer's brand and marketing expertise and cites her experience with scaled chains as relevant as Kura Sushi nears the 100-unit mark and expands across the United States.

Positive

• Board addition: Claudia Schaefer elected effective Jan 21, 2026
• Marketing expertise: Schaefer is Chief Marketing Officer at Smoothie King
• National-chain experience: Prior CMO roles at Jamba Juice and Cheddar's
• Scale-readiness: Company cited nearing the 100-unit mark

Negative

• Board departure: Director Kim Ellis did not stand for re-election effective Jan 21, 2026

News Market Reaction – KRUS

-2.71%

1 alert

-2.71% News Effect

On the day this news was published, KRUS declined 2.71%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kura Sushi USA, Inc. (“Kura Sushi” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: KRUS), a technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept, today announced that Claudia Schaefer has been elected to serve as an independent member of the Board of Directors effective January 21, 2026. In conjunction with Ms. Schaefer’s nomination, Kim Ellis did not stand for re-election as a director, also effective January 21, 2026.

Hajime Uba, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Kura Sushi, stated, “We are thrilled to announce the election of Claudia to Kura Sushi USA’s Board of Directors. Claudia’s deep brand and marketing background makes her an excellent addition to the team, and we look forward to working together to grow national awareness of the unique quality, value, and experience that Kura Sushi offers.”

Claudia Schaefer stated, “I’m honored to join Kura Sushi’s board of directors and am excited to support Kura’s brand and marketing strategy as they expand across the United States. Having worked with both growth vehicles and nationally scaled chains, I hope to bring the breadth of my experience to Kura as it nears the 100-unit mark and prepares to enter its next stage as a corporation.”

Ms. Schaefer is the Chief Marketing Officer at Smoothie King, where her focus is driving relevance and differentiation across all brand touchpoints including branding, marketing, store design, innovation, merchandising and digital experiences. Prior to joining Smoothie King, Ms. Schaefer served as the Chief Experience Officer at Caliber, parent company of Caliber Collision, following her tenures as the Chief Marketing Officer for Jamba Juice and for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen. Previously, Ms. Schaefer worked at Brinker International, parent company of Chili’s Bar & Grill, where she served in multiple marketing capacities both domestically and internationally. Ms. Schaefer also served on the board of directors for Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza from 2019 through its sale in 2021.

About Kura Sushi USA, Inc.

Kura Sushi USA, Inc. is a technology-enabled Japanese restaurant concept with 84 locations across 22 states and Washington DC. The Company offers guests a distinctive dining experience built on authentic Japanese cuisine and an engaging revolving sushi service model. Kura Sushi USA, Inc. was established in 2008 as a subsidiary of Kura Sushi, Inc., a Japan-based revolving sushi chain with over 550 restaurants and 40 years of brand history. For more information, please visit http://www.kurasushi.com.

Investor Relations Contact:
Jeff Priester or Steven Boediarto
(657) 333-4010
investor@kurausa.com

FAQ

Who joined Kura Sushi's board on January 21, 2026 (KRUS)?

Claudia Schaefer was elected as an independent director effective January 21, 2026.

Which director left Kura Sushi's board effective January 21, 2026 (KRUS)?

Kim Ellis did not stand for re-election, effective January 21, 2026.

What is Claudia Schaefer's current role and industry experience relevant to KRUS?

She is Chief Marketing Officer at Smoothie King with prior senior marketing roles at Caliber, Jamba Juice, Cheddar's, and Brinker.

How does Kura Sushi describe the expected impact of Schaefer joining the board (KRUS)?

The company said Schaefer's brand and marketing background will support national awareness as Kura expands toward 100 units.

When did Kura Sushi announce the board change and under what ticker is it listed?

The board change was announced January 22, 2026; Kura Sushi trades as NASDAQ: KRUS.