Darin Harper joins Dave & Buster’s with finance experience from restaurant companies Main Event, On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, and Chuck E. Cheese’s.
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment has tapped Darin Harper to be its new chief financial officer, effective June 17. The company’s existing CFO, Michael Quartieri, will stay on board until June 16 to ensure a smooth transition prior to his previously announced retirement.
Harper previously served as senior vice president, CFO for Main Event Entertainment. From March 2017 through Dave & Buster’s acquisition of Main Event in June 2022, Harper led the finance, accounting, legal, risk and audit functions. He simultaneously served as Group CFO for Main Event’s parent company Ardent Leisure, based in Sydney, Australia.
Prior, he served as CFO of On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, and principal accounting officer at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Most recently, he was CFO of World Choice Investments, an operator of themed family entertainment attractions.
“Darin was the obvious choice after an extensive national search for our next CFO,” Dave & Buster’s CEO Chris Morris said in a statement. Morris is also a Main Event transplant, serving as CEO until the acquisition, where he transitioned into CEO of Dave & Buster's. “He is an exceptional finance leader and having had the pleasure of working alongside him at various points in my career, I am extremely confident he is the perfect individual to drive our company’s finance team to new heights. His strategic insights, superior track record of execution, and in-depth knowledge of the out-of-home entertainment space will be a huge asset to our company and allow him to hit the ground as we accelerate our growth journey in 2024 and beyond.”
Harper is the latest executive to join Dave & Buster’s following the 2022 acquisition. Joining Morris on the leadership team are Antonio Bautista, chief international development officer, Rob Edmund, chief people and legal officer, Steve Klohn, chief information officer, Les Lehner, chief procurement officer and head of Main Event Development, John Mulleady, chief development officer, Tony Wehner, chief operating officer, and Ashley Zickefoose, chief marketing officer.
“Dave & Buster’s is an iconic brand and the leader in scaled out-of-home entertainment with a lot of room for growth,” Harper said in a statement. “The company’s strategic plan presents a tremendous amount of tangible upside that I look forward to achieving and made for an easy decision to accept the opportunity.”
Dave & Buster’s Entertainment operates 223 locations in North America between the Dave & Buster’s and Main Event brands.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
