Shake Shack Inc. announced the appointment of Tristan Walker to its Board of Directors, effective June 18. Walker has been named to the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee of the Board and will work closely with management on Shake Shack’s environmental, social and corporate governance. A skilled executive with a wealth of experience in leading companies and building brands with an eye toward authenticity and inclusivity, Walker will become the tenth member of Shake Shack’s Board of Directors.
“After many months of conversation, I’m thrilled to name Tristan to Shake Shack’s Board of Directors,” says Randy Garutti, Shake Shack CEO. “With sizeable growth ahead and a relentless focus on excellence, guest experience and hospitality, Tristan’s knowledge and fresh perspective will be instrumental in Shake Shack’s continued success. He brings with him a proven ability to lead, execute and inspire and his unique point of view will be invaluable for our company. We’re humbled to welcome him to our Board.”
“I’ve long admired Shake Shack for their commitment to taking care of their guests, their teams and using their business to create good in the world,” adds Walker. “As someone who is passionate about building authentic, inclusive brands, I’m excited to leverage my experience to help guide their growth and further strengthen their consumer and community connections.”
Walker is the founder & CEO of Walker & Company, a maker of health and beauty products for people of color. Prior to his founding Walker & Company, which merged with Procter & Gamble in December 2018, he was an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Andreessen Horowitz. Before that, he was the Director of Business Development for Foursquare where he oversaw strategic partnerships and monetization. In this role, Walker managed integrations with large brands and media entities including American Express, The New York Times, CNN, MTV, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Starbucks. In 2019, he was named one of Fortune Magazine’s 50 “World’s Greatest Leaders.” He has also been named a USA Today Person of the Year, TIME 100 Next, Ebony Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful People, Vanity Fair’s “Next Establishment,” Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40” and AdAge “Creative 50.”
He is a member of the Board of Directors of Footlocker, Inc. and the Founder of CODE2040, a not-for-profit that is activating, connecting, and mobilizing the largest racial equity community in tech to dismantle the structural barriers that prevent the full participation and leadership of Black and Latinx technologists in the innovation economy. Walker holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Stony Brook University, where he graduated as valedictorian, and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He currently lives with his wife, Amoy, and two sons, Avery and August, in Atlanta, Georgia.
