Eric Christel serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Bloomin' Brands, Inc., a global casual dining restaurant company renowned for brands including Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, and Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. Appointed to this role in 2022, Christel oversees the company's comprehensive finance operations, encompassing financial planning and analysis, accounting, tax, treasury, investor relations, internal audit, and risk management. His strategic leadership drives capital allocation, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholder value creation, positioning Bloomin' Brands for sustainable growth amid evolving industry dynamics. With over two decades of finance experience in the restaurant sector, Christel joined Bloomin' Brands in 2014 as Vice President of Finance, rapidly advancing to Senior Vice President of Finance and Treasurer before his CFO appointment. Prior to Bloomin' Brands, he spent more than a decade at Darden Restaurants, Inc., rising to Director of Finance for Red Lobster, where he managed budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis for a multibillion-dollar brand. Earlier in his career, Christel held key roles at Bank of America and Ernst & Young, building expertise in financial modeling, auditing, and corporate finance. Christel's tenure has been marked by significant achievements, including guiding the company through the COVID-19 crisis with successful debt refinancings, balance sheet strengthening, and cost optimization initiatives that improved liquidity and operational resilience. His efforts have supported strategic investments in digital transformation, menu innovation, and international expansion, earning recognition for enhancing profitability and delivering strong returns to investors.