Wingstop Inc. 8-K

What Happened

• Wingstop Inc. filed an 8-K reporting that it reinstated the Chief Operating Officer (COO) role and appointed Rajneesh (Raj) Kapoor to the position effective January 7, 2026. Mr. Kapoor, 55, had been Wingstop’s Senior Vice President, President of International since May 2023. He previously held senior restaurant and operations roles at 7‑Eleven for 27 years.
• The filing also says the company reassigned duties of Marisa J. Carona (Senior VP, Chief US Franchise Operations and Development Officer) and Albert McGrath (Senior VP, General Counsel and Secretary); both will remain employees through March 10, 2026 and their departures will qualify them for severance under Wingstop’s Amended and Restated Executive Severance Plan.

Key Details

• Appointment effective date: January 7, 2026.
• Mr. Kapoor’s 2026 pay: $625,000 base salary and $450,000 annual incentive bonus target for fiscal 2026.
• Mr. Kapoor remains eligible for standard executive benefits, including awards under the 2025 Omnibus Incentive Plan and protection under the Executive Severance Plan.
• Marisa Carona and Albert McGrath remain employed through March 10, 2026 and will be eligible for severance benefits as described in Wingstop’s April 3, 2025 proxy statement.

Why It Matters

• This is a material executive change: reinstating the COO role and naming a leader with international and large-format retail operations experience signals a focus on franchise development and operational execution across U.S. and international business and company-owned restaurants.
• The filing identifies specific compensation and notes eligible severance for two senior executives who are being transitioned out; investors should note potential near-term severance expenses (per the company’s existing severance plan) and the impact of leadership changes on operational continuity.