Flash FinanceUS
Market closed S&P 5007,549.94+2.35% Nasdaq25,253.14+2.74% Dow 3052,389.75+2.15% Russell 20002,840.81+3.15% Nasdaq-10027,907.62+3.40% MidCap 4003,715.23+3.13% SmallCap 6001,722.37+2.89% VIX19.92-22.31% 10Y Yield4.86+0.10% Close of Nov 09, 2026
AI brief of an SEC Form 8-K · Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)

Dave & Buster's CEO Tarun Lal retires; CFO Darin Harper named CEO

Neutral Impact 4 of 5 leadership Written later

Dave & Buster's CEO Tarun Lal retired effective August 3, 2026, to spend more time with his family in India. The Board appointed Chief Financial Officer Darin Harper as CEO and a board member on the same date, and Cory Hatton was named interim CFO while the company searches for a permanent CFO. The change puts a new CEO in charge and leaves the finance chief role temporarily filled.

Key points

  • Tarun Lal retired as CEO effective August 3, 2026, and will serve as an advisor through January 31, 2028, or an earlier date agreed with the company.
  • Darin Harper's employment terms include a $650,000 annual base salary, a target bonus of 100% of salary, and a one-time equity grant with a total value of $6,500,000.
  • Lal will receive a consulting fee of $85,833.33 per month during the consulting period.
  • Cory Hatton, Head of Entertainment Finance, Investor Relations & Treasurer, is interim CFO; Kevin Sheehan became Lead Independent Director and James P. Chambers became Chair of the Board, effective August 4, 2026.

The filing

CompanyDave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (PLAY)
Form8-K, current report
Filed with the SECAug 4, 2026, 4:31 PM ET
Accession number0001525769-26-000032

Items reported: 5.02 Director / Officer Change

Read the filing on SEC.gov ↗

Written by AI on Nov 9, 2026, 8:38 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on August 04, 2026.

Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.