Velarion · Company Intelligence
Compensation Brief
Fiscal year 2025 · Filings through 2026-05-15

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (RRGB)

Fiscal year 2025 executive and director compensation, incentive-plan design, equity activity, and governance — every figure in this brief is traceable to its exact location in the company’s SEC filing — the document, the section, the page, and the table, linked directly.

$3,608,589
G.J. Hart total, FY2025
Former President and Chief Executive Officerhighest-paid officer; CEO David Pace: $3,252,947
1st
CEO (David Pace) pay percentile vs peers
130:1
CEO-to-median pay ratio
84.61%
Say-on-pay support, latest vote
Companies that benchmark against RRGB
8 companies name RRGB as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses RRGB in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named RRGB in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

01

Summary Compensation Table — fiscal year 2025

Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
G.J. Hart$334,231$0$1,823,274$0$0$0$1,451,084$3,608,589
Former President and Chief Executive Officer
David Pace510,57701,567,00001,169,49405,8763,252,947
President and Chief Executive Officer
Todd Wilson475,00001,458,89700017,1691,951,066
Former Chief Financial Officer
Sarah Mussetter439,2310890,3420300,690012,4181,642,681
Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Jesse Griffith402,6930400,1540305,289037,6011,145,737
Chief Operations Officer
Meghan Spuler242,3080437,668000316,559996,535
Former Chief People Officer
Humera Kassem108,17350,000214,189067,47005,986445,818
Chief People Officer
Christopher Meyer80,00000000080,000
Interim Chief Financial Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY20242025
G.J. Hart$3,608,589$5,487,137$8,463,446−1,878,548
David Pace3,252,947
Todd Wilson1,951,0661,293,6441,768,595+657,422
Sarah Mussetter1,642,681958,7171,374,523+683,964
Jesse Griffith1,145,737
Meghan Spuler996,535723,618145,694+272,917
Humera Kassem445,818
Christopher Meyer80,000

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

02

Equity transactions since the proxy statement was filed

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

03

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Jesse GriffithPSU2025-05-2211,32022,640$38,262
Jesse GriffithPRSU2025-06-2630,05960,118252,496
G.J. HartRSU2025-03-24431,0341,823,274
Todd WilsonPRSU2025-06-26109,590219,180920,556
David PaceRSU2025-04-24250,000640,000
Todd WilsonPSU2025-05-2241,27382,546139,503
Todd WilsonRSU2025-03-2494,288398,838
Sarah MussetterPSU2025-05-2225,18850,37685,135
Humera KassemRSU2025-09-2223,407161,274
David PacePSU2025-04-24900,0001,800,000927,000
Jesse GriffithRSU2025-03-2425,862109,396
Sarah MussetterRSU2025-03-2457,543243,407
Meghan SpulerRSU28,286119,650
Sarah MussetterPRSU2025-06-2666,881133,762561,800
Meghan SpulerPRSU32,87765,754276,167
Humera KassemRSU2025-09-227,68052,915
Meghan SpulerPSU12,38224,76441,851
03b

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Jesse Griffith$109,396$38,262$025.9%
G.J. Hart1,823,274000.0%
Todd Wilson398,838139,503025.9%
David Pace640,000927,000059.2%
Sarah Mussetter243,40785,135025.9%
Humera Kassem214,189000.0%
Meghan Spuler119,65041,851025.9%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

04

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Sarah MussetterPSU25,188$108,560
Sarah MussetterPSU66,881288,257
David PacePSU900,0003,879,000
Sarah MussetterRSU57,543248,010
David PaceRSU250,0001,077,500
Sarah MussetterPSU30,164130,007
Jesse GriffithRSU6,99430,144
Humera KassemRSU23,407100,884
Sarah MussetterRSU17,62575,964
Jesse GriffithPSU11,96951,586
Jesse GriffithPSU11,32048,789
Jesse GriffithPSU30,059129,554
Humera KassemRSU7,68033,101
Jesse GriffithRSU2,1919,443
Jesse GriffithRSU25,862111,465
Sarah MussetterRSU6,64928,657
Jesse GriffithRSU2,61011,249
05

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

Our executive compensation program is designed to pay for performance and link incentives to current and long-term sustained achievement of Company strategic and financial goals. It encourages our executive officers to think and act like the owners they are and compensates them accordingly in significant part based on the performance of the Company.

CEO STI target (% of salary)150%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)
Independent consultantMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Clawback policyTrue
Anti-hedgingTrue
Anti-pledgingTrue
06

Say-on-pay — recent advisory votes

Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-05-147,643,7221,389,9601,022,84884.61%Passed
20252025-05-227,808,812692,971707,29591.85%Passed
20242024-05-237,647,5761,191,561486,54786.52%Passed
20232023-05-189,314,965231,159287,34897.58%Passed
20222022-05-1912,363,294255,3818,68797.98%Passed
20212021-05-2012,006,067781,55819,37793.89%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year's compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company's computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company's computation
20262026-05-1484.61%a
20252025-05-2291.85%b
20242024-05-2386.52%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of the vote.”.

Approval percentages are the company's own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

07

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)130 : 1
CEO total compensation
Median employee compensation$25,068
08

Director compensation — fiscal year 2025

DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Anthony AckilIndependent · Board Chair · Compensation$145,728$126,620$0$19,375$291,723
Anddria VarnadoIndependent · Compensation (Chair)87,019126,620023,125236,764
Steven LumpkinIndependent · Audit (Chair) · Finance100,000126,62000226,620
Thomas ConfortiIndependent · Audit · Nominating and Governance (Chair) · Not standing for re-election87,500126,62000214,120
Allison PageIndependent · Compensation · Finance (Chair) · Not standing for re-election87,500126,62000214,120
James PappasIndependent · Finance · Compensation · Newly elected75,000126,62000201,620
Nicole Miller ReganIndependent · Audit · Finance75,000126,62000201,620
Christopher MartinIndependent · Finance · Nominating and Governance · Newly elected75,000126,62000201,620
David PaceEmployee director53,242126,62000137,362
09

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$75,000
Annual equity retainer$120,000
Per board meeting fee
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)25,000 / 17,500 / 12,500
Stock ownership guideline5x annual cash retainer ($375,000)
09b

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$785,989
Equity awards (grant-date value)$1,139,580
All other compensation$42,500
Total cost of the board$1,968,069

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

10

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

10a

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies Red Robin Gourmet Burgers names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer's own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer's filing. A dash means the peer's current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.

10b

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company's own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Brinker International, Inc.2025Kevin Hochman$991,154$26,499,879$0$2,929,615$30,465,768
2Texas Roadhouse, Inc.2025Gerald Morgan1,356,5388,410,9280909,41310,822,133
3The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated2025David Overton1,030,0005,902,12401,445,6058,419,852
4Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.2023Sandra Cochran1,175,0004,985,39301,673,2008,271,679
5Dine Brands Global, Inc.2025John Peyton1,000,0002,213,57702,158,5005,417,315
6Jack in the Box Inc.2025Lance Tucker624,0383,636,0950310,5215,271,591
7El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.2025Elizabeth Williams750,9501,434,000717,000581,1623,539,320
8Red Robin Gourmet Burgers2025David Pace510,5771,567,00001,169,4943,252,947
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.not in coverage universe
The ONE Group Hospitalitynot in coverage universe
Potbelly Corporationnot in coverage universe

Each peer's compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer's figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

10c

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers103.96%RSU 50 · PSU 25 · PPSU 25Yes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Brinker International, Inc.200%PSU 60 · RSU 40NoPearl Meyer & Partners
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.89%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoFW Cook
Dine Brands Global, Inc.91.96%Cash LTI 75 · RSU 25NoExequity LLP
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.77.5%PSU 33 · RSU 33 · Options 33NoSemler Brossy
First Watch Restaurant Group, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Jack in the Box Inc.47.6%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoMeridian Compensation Partners
Potbelly Corporationnot disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Texas Roadhouse, Inc.65%RSU 50 · PSU 50NoFW Cook
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated100.25%PSU 50 · RSU 50NoFW Cook
The ONE Group Hospitalitynot disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed

Read from each company's Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company's filing does not state the item.

11

Source register

Each figure's location is given both for the eye (section · page · table · row · column) and for a script (table/row/column index and exact character span in the filed document). Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

#SupportsDocumentFiledAccessionLocation in document
1Section 01, G.J. HartDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 3,608,589. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c46 · span 829656–829665
2Section 01, David PaceDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 3,252,947. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c46 · span 824567–824576
3Section 01, Todd WilsonDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 1,951,066. Filing ↗machine: r6 · c46 · span 848778–848787
4Section 01, Sarah MussetterDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 1,642,681. Filing ↗machine: r9 · c46 · span 863206–863215
5Section 01, Jesse GriffithDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 1,145,737. Filing ↗machine: r12 · c46 · span 878099–878108
6Section 01, Meghan SpulerDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 996,535. Filing ↗machine: r14 · c46 · span 888622–888629
7Section 01, Humera KassemDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 445,818. Filing ↗machine: r13 · c46 · span 883591–883598
8Section 01, Christopher MeyerDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 44. As printed: 80,000. Filing ↗machine: span 840093–840099
9Section 03, Jesse Griffith PSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r7 · c22 · span 702606–702612
10Section 03, Jesse Griffith PRSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r7 · c29 · span 703476–703482
11Section 03, G.J. Hart RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r3 · c36 · span 683335–683342
12Section 03, Todd Wilson PRSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r5 · c29 · span 692956–692963
13Section 03, David Pace RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r2 · c36 · span 678074–678081
14Section 03, Todd Wilson PSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r5 · c22 · span 692086–692092
15Section 03, Todd Wilson RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r5 · c36 · span 693831–693837
16Section 03, Sarah Mussetter PSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r6 · c22 · span 697346–697352
17Section 03, Humera Kassem RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t35 · r20 · c51 · span 1078103–1078109
18Section 03, David Pace PSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r2 · c22 · span 676328–676335
19Section 03, Jesse Griffith RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r7 · c36 · span 704350–704356
20Section 03, Sarah Mussetter RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r6 · c36 · span 699090–699096
21Section 03, Meghan Spuler RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r9 · c36 · span 714840–714846
22Section 03, Sarah Mussetter PRSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r6 · c29 · span 698216–698222
23Section 03, Meghan Spuler PRSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r9 · c29 · span 713966–713972
24Section 03, Humera Kassem RSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t35 · r21 · c51 · span 1085313–1085318
25Section 03, Meghan Spuler PSUDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” · grants of plan-based awards table. Filing ↗machine: t27 · r9 · c22 · span 713096–713102
26Section 07, pay ratioDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 130 : 1. Filing ↗machine: span 293395–293398
27Section 08, Anthony AckilDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 291,723. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r1 · c17 · span 447763–447770
28Section 08, Anddria VarnadoDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 236,764. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r9 · c17 · span 464471–464478
29Section 08, Steven LumpkinDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 226,620. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r3 · c17 · span 451930–451937
30Section 08, Thomas ConfortiDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 214,120. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r2 · c17 · span 449834–449841
31Section 08, Allison PageDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 214,120. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r6 · c17 · span 458207–458214
32Section 08, James PappasDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 201,620. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r7 · c17 · span 460300–460307
33Section 08, Nicole Miller ReganDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 201,620. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r8 · c17 · span 462375–462382
34Section 08, Christopher MartinDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 201,620. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r4 · c17 · span 454004–454011
35Section 08, David PaceDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 137,362. Filing ↗machine: t20 · r5 · c17 · span 456139–456146
36Section 06, 2026 voteForm 8-K2026-05-150001628280-26-035556Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 84.61% (votes for as printed: 7,643,722). Filing ↗
37Section 06, 2025 voteForm 8-K2025-05-230001104659-25-052507Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 91.85% (votes for as printed: 7,808,812). Filing ↗
38Section 06, 2024 voteForm 8-K2024-05-280001104659-24-065579Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 86.52% (votes for as printed: 7,647,576). Filing ↗
39Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed)ComputedcomputedΔ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.machine: formula: Δ = FY(n) − FY(n−1)
40Section 03b vehicle mix (computed)ComputedcomputedRSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).machine: formula: sums + PSU ratio
41Section 09b board cost (computed)ComputedcomputedCash 785,989 + equity 1,139,580 + all other 42,500 = 1,968,069, summed across the director compensation table rows.machine: formula: Σ = 1,968,069
42Brinker International, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2025-10-030001193125-25-230105CEO total compensation as printed in Brinker International, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 30,465,768. Filing ↗machine: r2 · c39 · span 618636–618646
43Texas Roadhouse, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-100001104659-26-041771CEO total compensation as printed in Texas Roadhouse, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 10,822,133. Filing ↗machine: t125 · r3 · c14 · span 1328962–1328972
44The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-100001104659-26-042016CEO total compensation as printed in The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated's own proxy. As printed: 8,419,852. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c64 · span 783270–783279
45Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2023-10-060001104659-23-107368CEO total compensation as printed in Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 8,271,679. Filing ↗machine: t24 · r1 · c35 · span 567182–567191
46Dine Brands Global, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-270001193125-26-127555CEO total compensation as printed in Dine Brands Global, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,417,315. Filing ↗machine: r4 · c31 · span 603550–603559
47Jack in the Box Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-01-210000807882-26-000009CEO total compensation as printed in Jack in the Box Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,271,591. Filing ↗machine: span 1019487–1019496
48El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc., Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-04-300001606366-26-000021CEO total compensation as printed in El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,539,320. Filing ↗machine: t144 · r5 · c23 · span 798734–798743
49Red Robin Gourmet Burgers (subject), Section 10b CEO totalDEF 14A2026-03-260001104659-26-035198CEO total compensation as printed in Red Robin Gourmet Burgers's own proxy. As printed: 3,252,947. Filing ↗machine: r1 · c46 · span 824567–824576
50Section 10a, Brinker International, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-25-230105Brinker International, Inc. names Red Robin Gourmet Burgers in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
51Section 10a, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-23-107368Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. names Red Robin Gourmet Burgers in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗
52Section 10a, Texas Roadhouse, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001104659-26-041771Texas Roadhouse, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. Filing ↗
53Section 10a, Dine Brands Global, Inc. reciprocityDEF 14A0001193125-26-127555Dine Brands Global, Inc. names Red Robin Gourmet Burgers in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). Filing ↗