Brinker International Announces Two Executive Leadership Changes

DALLAS, Dec. 6, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), has named Ian Baines Senior Vice President of Strategic Innovation for Brinker and Chili's® Grill & Bar and promoted Carin Stutz to President of Brinker's Global Business Development.

Baines is a restaurant industry veteran with an extensive background in culinary and operations. He previously served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, a full-service bar and grill restaurant company owned and operated by Sun Capital Partners in Orlando, Fla. Baines is returning to Brinker International, where he previously served as the Regional Vice President of Operations for Romano's Macaroni Grill® and Vice President of Operations for former Brinker brand, Big Bowl® Fresh Chinese and Thai.

In his new role, Baines will oversee such initiatives as kitchen and culinary innovation, as well as lead the brand's remodeling efforts of more than 800 company-owned Chili's locations nationwide.

Stutz joined Brinker in June 2009 as Senior Vice President of Brinker and Chief Operating Officer of Global Business Development and later that year added Senior Vice President of Strategic Operations for both global and domestic business to her title. She will supervise business decisions and restaurant operations for all international locations while engaging Brinker's international goals and objectives.

"We welcome Ian and his invaluable industry knowledge back to the Brinker family and congratulate Carin in her expanded role leading our global efforts," said Doug Brooks, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brinker International. "Both Ian and Carin's leadership and contributions speak volumes to the successes each have had throughout their careers and we feel that their fresh ideas will bring a beneficial perspective to our organization."

Baines began his restaurant industry career as a fine dining chef, working in both Toronto and London. A British native, Baines graduated from the culinary school of Westminster College in London.

ABOUT BRINKER INTERNATIONAL

Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT), is one of the world's leading casual dining restaurant companies, serving more than one million guests daily. Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker owns or franchises more than 1,500 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories, and employs more than 100,000. Brinker's wholly-owned restaurant brands include Chili's® Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy®. Brinker also holds a minority investment in Romano's Macaroni Grill®. For more information, visit www.brinker.com.

SOURCE Brinker International, Inc.