---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001525769-26-000041"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "PLAY"
cik: "0001525769"
company_name: "Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-09-21T18:16:17+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-09-21T18:17:21.039392+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "positive"
materiality_score: 0.7
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Dave & Buster's appoints new COO and CAO; multiple C-suite promotions

## Summary
- Amanda Busby named COO; $450k salary, 70% bonus target, 72,464 RSUs, 74,294 options at $8.97, PSUs.
- Derek Sample named CAO; $315k salary, 50% bonus target, 39,019 RSUs, 52,006 options at $8.97, PSUs.
- Promotions: Rachel Morgan (Chief Legal & Admin Officer/Secretary), Aldo Rosales (Chief Strategy & Rev Mgmt), Jeremy Tucker (CMO), Kevin Fish (CTO).
- CEO Darin Harper cites 'Back-to-Basics' strategy; Board Chair James Chambers expresses confidence in leadership team.
- Equity grants vest over 3 years; options tied to stock price targets by Aug 2029; PSUs tied to same-store sales.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001525769-26-000041
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: PLAY
- cik: 0001525769
- company_name: Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-09-21T18:16:17+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: positive
- materiality_score: 0.7
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.7
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1525769/000152576926000041/0001525769-26-000041-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1525769/000152576926000041/play-20260811.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001525769-26-000041
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001525769-26-000041.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001525769-26-000041.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Derek Sample was appointed as Chief Accounting Officer at Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Accounting Officer
  source text: On August 11, 2026, the Board appointed Derek Sample as Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, and on August 25, 2026, the Board designated Mr. Sample as the principal accounting officer of the Company.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1525769/000152576926000041/0001525769-26-000041-index.htm
- Executive change
  Amanda Busby was appointed as Chief Operations Officer at Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Chief Operations Officer
  source text: On August 11, 2026, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Dave & Buster's Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Amanda Busby as Chief Operations Officer.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1525769/000152576926000041/0001525769-26-000041-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.