Susan Lintonsmith
ONE Group HospitalityAbout Susan Lintonsmith
Independent Class II director of The ONE Group Hospitality (STKS) since September 13, 2021; age 60. Veteran consumer/restaurant operator and brand executive: COO (European Wax Center franchisee), former CEO of Quiznos and Elements Massage, and prior leadership roles at Red Robin, Dean Foods, Western Union, Coca‑Cola, Einstein Noah, and Pizza Hut. Currently also serves on public company board Regis Corporation (NASDAQ: RGS) and the board of Checkers & Rally’s. Skills matrix highlights operating, financial, marketing, hospitality, strategy, governance, and risk expertise.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Wax Center franchisee (PE-backed) | Chief Operating Officer | 2022–present | Multi-unit operations leadership |
| AtYourGate | Chief Brand Officer | 2020–2021 | Brand and growth strategy |
| Elements Massage | Chief Executive Officer | 2019–2020 | Led national franchise brand |
| Quiznos | Chief Executive Officer | 2012–2018 | Turnaround to profitable growth after prolonged declines |
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers | Chief Marketing Officer | Prior to 2012 | Brand leadership |
| Dean Foods; Western Union; Coca‑Cola; Einstein Noah; Pizza Hut | Various management roles | Prior | Consumer/CPG and restaurant experience |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regis Corporation (NASDAQ: RGS) | Director | Jan 2025 | Public company directorship |
| Checkers & Rally’s Drive‑In Restaurants | Director | 2023 | Private company board |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board has determined Lintonsmith is independent under NASDAQ standards.
- Board class/term: Class II; current term ends at the 2027 annual meeting.
- Committee assignments (2024 year reported in 2025 proxy):
- Audit Committee member (Audit had 6 members; 4 meetings in 2024).
- Nominating & Governance Committee member (5 members; 1 meeting in 2024).
- Not on Compensation Committee (members: Angelis—Chair, Bullis, Ross, Serruya; 1 meeting in 2024).
- Attendance and engagement:
- 2024: Board met 10 times; committees met 6 times; each director attended >75% of Board and committee meetings; Lintonsmith attended 2024 annual meeting.
- 2023 (prior year, for trend): Board met 7 times; committees met 6 times; each director attended >75%; Lintonsmith attended 2023 annual meeting.
Fixed Compensation
- Structure: Non‑employee director annual retainer $175,000; paid 40% in cash and 60% in stock. Additional $12,500 cash for committee chairs (not applicable to Lintonsmith during 2024). No meeting fees disclosed.
| Year | Stock Awards ($) | Cash ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 105,000 | 70,000 | 175,000 |
| 2024 | 105,000 | 70,000 | 175,000 |
Performance Compensation
- Director pay is not performance‑conditioned; equity is delivered via the retainer’s stock component (60% of the $175k retainer), with no performance metrics disclosed for director equity.
| Component | Metric/Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer – stock portion | Time‑based stock (60% of $175k) | No performance metrics disclosed for directors. |
| Chair fees | $12,500 cash | Paid only to committee chairs; Lintonsmith not a chair in 2024. |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict Noted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regis Corporation (RGS) | Public | Director | No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Lintonsmith. |
| Checkers & Rally’s | Private | Director | No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Lintonsmith. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board skills matrix attributes: senior operating executive; senior financial executive; senior marketing/sales; hospitality; operating knowledge of the industry; public company directorship; domestic/international market development; corporate strategy; corporate governance; risk management.
- Biography emphasizes 35 years as strategist, branding expert, and operating leader across competitive consumer industries with executive leadership experience.
Equity Ownership
| As-of Date | Shares Beneficially Owned | Options/Warrants Exercisable <60 days | RSUs | Total Beneficial Ownership | % of Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2024 | 30,364 | 0 | — | 30,364 | <1% |
| Mar 24, 2025 | 57,305 | 0 | — | 57,306 | <1% |
Notes:
- The Board prohibits hedging by employees, officers and directors, supporting alignment with shareholders.
Governance Assessment
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Strengths for investor confidence:
- Independence and active committee service (Audit; Nominating & Governance), with >75% meeting attendance and annual meeting participation; indicates engagement.
- Pay mix has meaningful equity (60% of $175k retainer in stock), aligning incentives with shareholders.
- Ownership increased year‑over‑year (30,364 to 57,305 shares), improving “skin in the game,” albeit still <1% given share count.
- Board hedging prohibition and use of an independent compensation consultant (FW Cook) bolster governance practices.
-
Potential risks/considerations:
- No disclosed chair roles (reduced direct influence vs. committee chairs), though active on Audit and N&G.
- No director stock ownership guidelines disclosure located; cannot assess compliance against a formal requirement. (No guideline disclosure found in the cited proxy sections.)
- No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Lintonsmith; primary related‑party item relates to CEO’s privately‑owned entity under an arm’s‑length management services agreement.
-
RED FLAGS: None identified specific to Lintonsmith in the company’s proxy disclosures (no related‑party dealings, no hedging, attendance >75%).