Susan Lintonsmith
REGISAbout Susan Lintonsmith
Independent director of Regis Corporation since January 2025; age 60. She brings 35+ years of operating experience across franchised consumer services and restaurants, with roles spanning CEO, COO, and CMO in public and private companies. Education: MBA (Finance and Marketing), Indiana University; BBA, University of Notre Dame . Appointed to the Board effective January 15, 2025 and tapped to lead the CEO search committee in 2025’s succession process . Current board committees: Compensation; Nominating and Corporate Governance (Chair-designate effective after the 2025 annual meeting) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphinx Franchise Holdings (European Wax Center franchisee) | Chief Operations Officer | Since 2022 | Franchise operating leadership across multiple states; health & wellness services expertise |
| AtYourGate | Consultant / Chief Brand Officer | 2020–2021 | Start-up airport food delivery; brand and growth work |
| Elements Massage (WellBiz Brands) | CEO, President & COO | 2019–2020 | Multi-unit wellness franchisor leadership |
| QCE LLC (Quiznos) | CEO & President | 2016–2018 | Led turnaround efforts; prior COO U.S. (2014–2016) and Global CMO (2011–2016) |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers | Chief Marketing Officer | 2007–2011 | Brand and demand generation |
| WhiteWave Foods (Dean Foods) – Horizon Organic Dairy | VP/GM | 2005–2007 | P&L leadership for branded CPG |
| Pizza Hut; The Coca-Cola Company; Western Union | Marketing roles of increasing responsibility | Not specified | Brand strategy and marketing execution |
External Roles
| Organization | Type | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The One Group Hospitality, Inc. | Public | Director | March 2021 | STK/restaurant sector; public company board |
| Checkers & Rally’s Drive-In Restaurants | Private | Director | Not disclosed | Private company board |
| Pet(s) Supplies Plus | Private | Director | Not disclosed | Private company board |
| St. Mary’s Academy | Non-profit/Education | Director | Not disclosed | Non-profit board |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee; Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee; elected to succeed Mark Light as Chair of Nominating & Corporate Governance after the 2025 annual meeting .
- Special assignment: Leads the CEO search committee as part of the 2025 succession process .
- Independence: All current directors were deemed independent under Nasdaq standards in 2025; the interim CEO was not on the Board .
- Attendance: In FY2025, the Board met 8 times; each then‑serving director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings .
- Committee cadence: FY2025 meetings—Audit: 4; Compensation: 9; Nominating & Corporate Governance: 6 (her committees: Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance) .
- Executive sessions: Independent director executive sessions occur with each regularly scheduled Board meeting .
- Director stock ownership policy: Directors must hold all common stock received as Board compensation until they cease service .
- Overboarding policy: Corporate Governance Guidelines include limits on service on outside boards .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Metric | FY2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | $32,278 | Pro‑rated from January 15, 2025 start date against standard $70,000 annual retainer |
| Standard Annual Cash Retainer ($) | $70,000 (program rate) | Paid quarterly; not specific to Lintonsmith’s partial year |
| Committee Chair Fees ($) | Audit: $20,000; Compensation: $15,000; Nominating & Corporate Governance: $12,500 (program rates) | Chair fees apply if serving as chair; Lintonsmith is Chair-designate for Nominating post‑meeting |
| Chair of the Board Additional Retainer ($) | $40,000 (program rate) | Applies to independent Chair |
Performance Compensation (Director Equity)
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant-Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (pro‑rated new director grant) | Jan 15, 2025 | 2,752 outstanding as of 6/30/25 | $63,434 | Time‑based; Company resumed director RSUs in FY2025; plan requires minimum one‑year vesting for director awards (annual‑meeting to annual‑meeting deemed one year) |
| RSUs (annual cycle for non‑employee directors) | Nov 25, 2024 (program grant) | Not applicable to Lintonsmith’s start | $68,000 program value | Time‑based; minimum one‑year vesting per plan |
Notes:
- FY2025 director equity program: $68,000 RSU annual grant for non‑employee directors; Chair receives additional $34,000 RSUs . Annual grants to other directors occurred November 25, 2024; Lintonsmith received a pro‑rated RSU grant on January 15, 2025 .
- Company policy prohibits option/SAR repricing without shareholder approval .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to RGS | Potential Conflict/Interlock Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| The One Group Hospitality, Inc. (public) | No disclosed customer/supplier tie to RGS | No related‑party transactions disclosed in FY2025 |
| Checkers & Rally’s Drive‑In Restaurants (private) | None disclosed | No related‑party transactions disclosed |
| Pet(s) Supplies Plus (private) | None disclosed | No related‑party transactions disclosed |
| St. Mary’s Academy (non‑profit) | None | Not applicable |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Franchise leadership and operations experience (20+ years on franchisor side; nearly three years with a franchisee), with C‑suite roles at Quiznos, Elements Massage, and COO at Sphinx Franchise Holdings (European Wax Center franchisee) .
- Strategy, branding, innovation, and operations leadership across consumer services and food & beverage; prior CMO roles and senior marketing posts at Red Robin, Pizza Hut, Coca‑Cola, Western Union .
- Multi‑board experience (public, private, and non‑profit); has led CEO searches and supported strategic planning, marketing, and supply chain oversight at portfolio companies .
- Education: MBA (Indiana University); BBA (Notre Dame) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | As of Date | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Total Beneficial Ownership (shares) | Sept 2, 2025 | 2,752 |
| Ownership (% of outstanding) | Sept 2, 2025 | <1% |
| Stock Awards Outstanding (#) | June 30, 2025 | 2,752 |
| Option Awards Outstanding (#) | June 30, 2025 | — (none) |
| Hedging/Pledging | Policy prohibits hedging; pledging prohibited except limited CFO‑approved cases | |
| Director Holding Policy | Must hold all stock received as director compensation until service ends |
Governance Assessment
- Positives: Independent; seasoned franchise operator; immediately engaged to lead CEO search, signaling confidence and influence in succession governance . Strong committee footprint and incoming Chair of Nominating & Corporate Governance enhances board refresh, evaluation, and conflict oversight capabilities . Attendance met Board standard (≥75%); committee workload suggests engagement (Comp: 9; N&CG: 6 meetings in FY2025) . Director equity compensation reinstated in FY2025, improving alignment; robust policies on clawbacks, no tax gross‑ups, double‑trigger change‑in‑control, and no option repricing strengthen shareholder protections . Say‑on‑Pay support at 99% in 2024 indicates broad shareholder confidence in pay governance .
- Watch items: Early tenure at RGS (appointed Jan 2025) implies limited on‑board track record; beneficial ownership is small (<1%), though policy requires holding all director stock until departure and equity awards resumed in FY2025 . Multiple board commitments (two public plus private/non‑profit) should be monitored against overboarding policy, though no breach is disclosed .
- Conflicts/Related Parties: No related‑party transactions in FY2025; insider trading policy prohibits hedging and restricts pledging, mitigating alignment risks .
Red Flags: None disclosed (no related‑party transactions, no hedging/pledging activity disclosed, no attendance shortfalls disclosed) .