Cracker Barrel to pay Julie Felss Masino’s's security costs, exit fees: reports

Key Points:

• Cracker Barrel will cover outgoing CEO Julie Felss Masino’s security costs indefinitely and pay her $4.6 million in exit fees over two years following the chain’s controversial rebrand attempt last year.
• Masino is stepping down as CEO on August 10 but will remain in an advisory role through the fall, while incoming CEO David Deno has been offered a $1 million salary plus relocation and travel benefits.
• The company’s failed rebranding effort, which included modernizing locations and removing the Uncle Herschel logo, led to customer backlash, declining sales, and public criticism, including from former President Trump.
• Providing paid security for former CEOs indefinitely is unusual but reflects growing safety concerns amid a rise in violent attacks targeting corporate leaders and executives.
• Other major companies, especially in tech, have also increased security spending for their top executives, with firms like Meta, Oracle, and Palantir reporting multi-million dollar security expenses in recent years.