BJ’s Restaurants names new CFO; $575k salary, $250k signing

BJ’s Restaurants (BJRI) appointed Todd J. Wilson as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer effective December 15, 2025.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

BJ’s Restaurants (BJRI) appointed Todd J. Wilson as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer effective December 15, 2025. William J. Atkins will serve as Interim Principal Financial Officer and Interim Principal Accounting Officer from November 8 to December 14, 2025, and Jacob J. Guild will no longer serve as Principal Accounting Officer effective November 8, 2025.

Wilson’s compensation includes a $575,000 base salary and an annual bonus target of at least 65% of salary with a current multiplier of 85%–115% based on performance. He will receive a $250,000 signing bonus and an initial equity grant with a grant date fair value of $500,000, split equally between RSUs and non‑qualified stock options, vesting in three annual installments beginning January 15, 2027. 2026 long‑term equity is set at $750,000, equally allocated among options, RSUs and performance units (three‑year cliff for performance units). Benefits include a $5,000/month housing allowance for six months, one monthly Austin–Los Angeles round‑trip for 18 months, and a company auto or up to $1,000/month allowance. If terminated without cause or he resigns for Good Reason, severance equals 12 months of base salary plus the employer portion of COBRA during the severance period.

Insights

Corporate governance & compensation analyst

CFO named with standard large-cap style package; governance-neutral.

BJ’s Restaurants named a seasoned restaurant finance leader as CFO effective December 15, 2025. The package pairs fixed pay of $575,000 with a bonus target of at least 65% and performance leverage (85%–115%). Equity is balanced between options, RSUs, and performance units, aligning part of compensation to multi-year outcomes.

Protections include 12 months’ salary severance and employer COBRA contributions for a without‑cause termination or Good Reason resignation. The initial equity grant of $500,000 vests over three years beginning January 15, 2027, while 2026 LTI of $750,000 uses three‑year schedules, with performance units cliff‑vesting. Relocation and travel allowances are defined and time‑bound.

Overall impact appears administrative and continuity‑focused; financial effects depend on future performance against compensation metrics. Subsequent filings may provide performance goal details.

8-K Event Classification

3 items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01

3 items

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance

Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure

Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits Exhibits

Financial statements, pro forma financial information, or exhibit attachments filed with this report.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Who is BJRI’s new CFO and when does he start?

Todd J. Wilson becomes Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer effective December 15, 2025.

What interim roles cover finance leadership before the new CFO starts at BJRI?

Effective November 8, 2025, William J. Atkins serves as Interim PFO and Interim PAO until December 14, 2025.

What happens to BJRI’s current Principal Accounting Officer?

Jacob J. Guild will no longer serve as Principal Accounting Officer effective November 8, 2025.

What are the key cash compensation terms for BJRI’s new CFO?

Base salary is $575,000 with an annual bonus target of at least 65% of salary, using a current multiplier of 85%–115% based on performance.

What equity awards will BJRI grant to the new CFO?

A $500,000 new‑hire grant (50% RSUs/50% options) vests over three years starting January 15, 2027. 2026 LTI is $750,000 split equally among options, RSUs and performance units (three‑year cliff for performance units).

What signing and relocation benefits are included?

A $250,000 signing bonus, $5,000/month housing for six months, one monthly Austin–Los Angeles round trip for 18 months, and a company car or $1,000/month allowance.

What severance protections apply to BJRI’s new CFO?

If terminated without cause or he resigns for Good Reason, he receives 12 months of base salary and COBRA employer contributions during the severance period.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

Understanding 8-K Material Events →

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google

Add on Google Not now

Accepted by SEC EDGAR 11/05/2025 - 04:15 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

False000101348800010134882025-11-052025-11-05iso4217:USDxbrli:sharesiso4217:USDxbrli:shares

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 5, 2025

BJ'S RESTAURANTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

California	0-21423	33-0485615
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

7755 Center Avenue, Suite 300
Huntington Beach, California	92647
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

(714) 500-2400

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
☐	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
☐	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class		Trading Symbol		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, No Par Value		BJRI		NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(c)       On November 5, 2025, BJ’s Restaurants, Inc. (the “Company”) announced the appointment of Todd J. Wilson as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer effective December 15, 2025.

Since November 2022, Mr. Wilson has served as the Chief Financial Officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB), a publicly traded full-service restaurant chain. Prior to joining Red Robin, from 2018 to 2022, Mr. Wilson served as the Chief Financial Officer of Hopdoddy Burger Bar, a privately held L Catterton Growth portfolio company. From 2016 to 2018, he was Vice President of Finance for Jamba Juice, a quick-service restaurant and juice bar. Prior to that, he served in progressive financial leadership roles at Bloomin’ Brands from 2006 to 2016. Mr. Wilson received his MBA from the University of South Florida and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida.

Effective November 8, 2025, Jacob J. Guild will no longer serve as the Company’s Principal Accounting Officer.

Effective November 8, 2025, William J. Atkins, who is currently serving as Interim Principal Financial Officer, will also serve as the Company’s Interim Principal Accounting Officer until December 14, 2025, at which time he will also cease to serve as the Company’s Interim Principal Financial Officer.

(e)        On October 30, 2025, the Company entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Wilson pursuant to which he was appointed as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective December 15, 2025 (the “Letter Agreement”). The following is a brief summary of the material terms of the Letter Agreement, which is qualified in its entirety by the terms of the Letter Agreement, which is attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibit 10.2.

Base Salary. Base salary shall be $575,000 per year.

Bonus Opportunity. Annual Bonus opportunity target shall be no less than 65% of Mr. Wilson’s base salary with a current multiplier of 85% to 115% of the bonus opportunity based on individual impact and performance.

Relocation Expenses. Mr. Wilson will be provided a monthly housing allowance of $5,000 per month for six months. In addition, Mr. Wilson will be reimbursed for one round trip airline ticket per month between Austin and Los Angeles for 18 months following his start date.

Additional Benefits. Mr. Wilson shall receive perquisites consistent with those offered in his role as an executive officer of the Company, including the use of a company automobile or automobile allowance of up to $1,000 per month.

Signing Bonus and Initial Equity Grant. Mr. Wilson will receive a $250,000 signing bonus following his start date as an employee of the Company. In addition, Mr. Wilson will receive an initial equity grant having a grant date fair market value of $500,000 (the “New Hire Grant”). The New Hire Grant will vest in three annual installments beginning on January 15, 2027, and will be divided equally between restricted stock units and non-qualified stock options. In the event Mr. Wilson is terminated by the Company without “Cause” (as defined in the Letter Agreement) or resigns for “Good Reason” (as defined in the Letter Agreement), the New Hire Grant will vest in full.

Annual Equity Grants. Equity grants will be made at the discretion of the Board of Directors under the Company’s 2024 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended (together with any successor or replacement equity incentive plans, the “Plan”). The Company agreed that Mr. Wilson’s annual long-term equity incentive grant for 2026 will have a grant date fair market value of $750,000 and consist of a combination of non-qualified stock options, restricted stock units and performance units, which will be allocated equally among such awards and be subject to such vesting annually over three years (other than with respect to performance units which shall be subject to three year “cliff vesting”).

Termination; With or Without Cause. The Company may terminate Mr. Wilson’s employment at any time. In the event of termination by the Company without cause (for reasons other than your death or disability) or resignation by Mr. Wilson for Good Reason (which includes the Company’s failure to cure its material breach of this Letter Agreement), on or after the Effective Date, Mr. Wilson will be eligible to receive a severance payment of twelve (12) months of his then current base salary, and unless and until he is covered under another group health insurance plan, continuation of health insurance coverage, the Company will also pay Mr. Wilson an amount equivalent to the employer portion of his COBRA payments for the severance period.

Covenants. The Letter Agreement contains customary confidentiality, non-solicitation, and non-disparagement provisions.

The description of the Letter Agreement in this Item 5.02 is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Letter Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and incorporated herein by reference.

There are no family relationships, as defined in Item 401 of Regulation S-K, between Mr. Wilson and any of the Company’s executive officers or directors or persons nominated or chosen to become a director or executive officer. Mr. Wilson has not engaged in any transaction with the Company during the last fiscal year, and does not propose to engage in any transaction, that would be reportable under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.

A copy of the Company’s press release, dated November 5, 2025, relating to the matters described in Item 5.02 above, is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

The information being furnished pursuant to Item 7.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise be subject to the liability of that section, and shall not be incorporated by reference into any other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.		Description
10.1		Offer Letter, dated October 30, 2025, between Todd Wilson and the Company
99.1		Press Release dated November 5, 2025
104		Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	BJ'S RESTAURANTS, INC.
	(Registrant)
Date: November 5, 2025	By:	/s/ Lyle D. Tick
		Lyle D. Tick
		Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)