Colleen Keating joins Bloomin’ Brands (NASDAQ: BLMN) board of directors
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
8-K
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. appointed Colleen Keating to its Board of Directors effective February 11, 2026, increasing the Board from ten to eleven members. She will also serve on the Board’s Compensation Committee and stand for re-election at the 2026 annual stockholders meeting.
Keating is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Planet Fitness, Inc. and brings more than 30 years of franchise and operations leadership experience across hospitality, real estate, and fitness. As a non-employee director, she will receive standard cash retainers and an annual restricted stock unit award, all pro-rated from her appointment date.
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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, and exhibit attachments filed with this report.
FAQ
What board change did Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) announce in this 8-K?
Bloomin’ Brands added Colleen Keating to its Board of Directors, effective February 11, 2026, and increased the Board size from ten to eleven members. She will also serve on the Compensation Committee and stand for re-election at the 2026 annual stockholders meeting.
Who is Colleen Keating, the new Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) director?
Colleen Keating is the Chief Executive Officer of Planet Fitness, Inc., with over 30 years of franchise and operations leadership experience. Her background spans hospitality, real estate, and fitness, including senior roles at FirstKey Homes, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
How will Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) compensate new director Colleen Keating?
As a non-employee director, Keating will receive a $95,000 annual Board retainer, a $12,500 annual Compensation Committee retainer, and an annual award of Company restricted stock units valued at $155,000. All amounts are pro-rated from her appointment date, with RSUs vesting at the next annual meeting.
Is Colleen Keating considered an independent director at Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN)?
The Board determined that Colleen Keating meets the Nasdaq definition of an independent director, including requirements for Audit Committee service. This means she has no relationships or transactions with Bloomin’ Brands that would compromise independence under applicable Nasdaq listing standards.
When did Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) publicly announce Colleen Keating’s appointment?
Bloomin’ Brands issued a press release on February 12, 2026, announcing that Colleen Keating joined its Board effective February 11, 2026. The press release, describing her background and new role, is included as Exhibit 99.1 to the current report.
What business does Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) operate according to this filing?
Bloomin’ Brands is described as one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies, with brands including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. It owns, operates, and franchises more than 1,450 restaurants across multiple U.S. states and international markets.
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) February 11, 2026
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||||||
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (813 ) 282-1225
N/A
(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:
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | |||||||||||||||
$ | The (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
Board Appointment
On February 11, 2026, upon the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (the “Company”), the Board increased the size of the Board from ten (10) directors to eleven (11) directors and appointed Colleen Keating as a director of the Company, effective February 11, 2026. Ms. Keating will stand for re-election at the 2026 annual meeting of stockholders. Ms. Keating has also been appointed as a member of the Board’s Compensation Committee.
Ms. Keating, age 57, currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Planet Fitness, Inc. (“PLNT”), an operator and franchisor of fitness centers, a role she has held since 2024. Prior to that she was CEO of FirstKey Homes LLC (“FirstKey”) property management company that leases single-family rental homes across the United States. Prior to joining FirstKey Ms. Keating served as the Chief Operating Officer, Americas of InterContinental Hotels Group (“IHG”) from March 2018 until February 2020. Ms. Keating also previously served as Executive Vice President of Operations at Davidson Hotels & Resorts from January 2017 until March 2018. Earlier in her career, Ms. Keating spent 16 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., serving in a variety of leadership positions of increasing responsibility, most recently as Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations and Compliance, North America.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Keating and any other person pursuant to which she was appointed as a director. Ms. Keating was identified through a national search. There are no family relationships between Ms. Keating and any director or other executive officer of the Company nor are there any transactions between Ms. Keating or any member of her immediate family and the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would be reportable as a related party transaction under the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
As a non-employee director, Ms. Keating will be entitled to receive the standard cash and equity compensation for non-employee directors, as follows:
• $95,000 annual retainer for service on the Board;
• $12,500 annual retainer for service on the Compensation Committee; and
• Annual award of restricted stock units of the Company with a fair market value equal to $155,000.
The cash and equity compensation described above will be pro-rated based on the date Ms. Keating is appointed to the Board. The award of restricted stock units described above will vest on the date of the first annual meeting of stockholders following the grant date. Ms. Keating is also entitled to receive reimbursement of her reasonable travel expenses incurred in connection with her attendance at Board and committee meetings.
Ms. Keating entered into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement, the form of which was filed as an exhibit to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed on April 6, 2012, as amended (Registration No. 333-180615).
The Board has determined that Ms. Keating satisfies the definition of “independent director” under the Nasdaq listing standards, including the requirements with respect to service on the Audit Committee.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure
On February 12, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Keating to the Board. A copy of the press release is filed with this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit Number | Description | ||||||||||
| 99.1 | Press Release - Addition to Board of Directors | ||||||||||
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) | ||||||||||
SIGNATURE
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.
| BLOOMIN’ BRANDS, INC. | |||||||||||
| (Registrant) | |||||||||||
| Date: | February 12, 2026 | By: | /s/ Kelly Lefferts | ||||||||
| Kelly Lefferts | |||||||||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer | |||||||||||
 | NEWS | Exhibit 99.1 | ||||||||||||
| Kelly Lefferts | ||||||||||||||
| Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary | ||||||||||||||
| (813) 830-4161 | ||||||||||||||
Colleen Keating Joins Company Board of Directors
TAMPA, Fla (February 12, 2026) – Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq: BLMN) today announced that Colleen Keating joined the company’s Board of Directors effective February 11, 2026. With her appointment, the Board increases its size from ten to 11 members. Keating will stand for re-election at the 2026 annual stockholders meeting; she will also serve on the Board’s Compensation Committee.
Keating is an accomplished executive with over 30 years of franchise and operations leadership experience in hospitality, real estate, and fitness industries. She currently serves as CEO and Board Member of Planet Fitness, where she has driven growth through strategic brand positioning, prioritizing the member experience, and franchisee profitability initiatives. Previously, she was CEO of FirstKey Homes, leading operational efficiency and scaling a major single-family rental platform. She has also held other senior leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer at InterContinental Hotels Group and Senior Vice President of Franchise Operations, North America at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where she oversaw thousands of properties and complex franchise operations. Keating brings deep expertise in P&L leadership, consumer-focused marketing, corporate governance, and public company experience.
"Colleen’s proven track record of leading global consumer brands, driving operational excellence, and fostering strong franchise relationships will be invaluable as we continue to elevate our guest experience,” said Mike Mohan, Chairman of the Board at Bloomin’ Brands. “Her strategic insight and passion for building high-performing teams align perfectly with our vision for the future."
About Bloomin’ Brands, Inc.
Bloomin’ Brands, Inc. is one of the largest casual dining restaurant companies in the world with a portfolio of leading, differentiated restaurant concepts. The Company’s restaurant portfolio includes Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill and Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. The Company owns, operates and franchises more than 1,450 restaurants in 46 states, Guam and 12 countries. For more information, please visit bloominbrands.com.
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