Douglas Brooks

Douglas H. Brooks
President, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Brinker International, Inc.

Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Website: www.brinker.com
Primary Business: Parent Company of Restaurant brands Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy
Revenues: $2.8 billion
Employees: More than 100,000

2011 CEO in Action

At Brinker International, our core values of growth, diversity, family, integrity, passion and balance guide us in the way we serve our guests, the way we work with each other and in the way we serve our communities. From the variety of dining experiences we offer at our restaurant brands to the more than 100,000 team members who each contribute something unique, celebrating diversity is something we do every day. A good company becomes a great company with dedication, respect, leadership and inclusiveness which is our commitment.

My approach as a leader of this company is strengthened through the involvement of my team members. They teach me to embrace and value the differences and perspectives in others because each person could be a potential guest or a future team member who has the ability to impact our business. It is because of our passionate commitment, we have tied diversity metrics to Brinker’s fiscal 2011 year end results and bonus plans. These metrics significantly help keep diversity a top priority within the business.

Furthermore, I believe it is crucial to sustain a strong diversity and inclusion program, as it not only impacts the way we attract, retain and develop our team members, but it ensures value is added to the company and our shareholders. From our workplace to our restaurants, to the communities we serve, Brinker has and will continue to integrate diversity and inclusion initiatives into all areas of our business and cultural beliefs.

Specifically, Brinker integrates diversity and inclusion throughout the following business components: multicultural marketing and advertising, supplier diversity, global operations, recruitment, training, advancement, mentorship, internship, higher education, community involvement and more.

We do not view diversity as a business case; rather it is a core value that is ingrained into the company’s cultural beliefs. Our passion is making people feel special, and diversity guides our company in the way we provide hospitality and in every interaction with our guests, as well as our approach with team members and in the communities we serve.

Lastly, the reason we passionately support diversity and inclusion is because as we celebrate the differences that make a good company great and leverage the individual strengths of our team members, we create an innovative and unified team.

Education: BS, Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston
First Job: Dishwasher and busboy at Youngblood’s Fried Chicken in Dallas at age 13
What I’m Reading: Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
My Philosophy: Be honest with people, but make them feel special.
Best Advice: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Never say never and never say always.
Family: Holly, his wife of 33 years, and their two adult sons, Taylor and Kyle.
Interests: Non-profit work, travel, golf, reading
Favorite Charities: Limbs for Life Foundation, Kenny Can Foundation