Cracker Barrel Old Country Store named its current chief financial officer and executive vice president
as president and chief operations officer on Nov. 3.
Cochran, former CEO of Books-A-Million, joined the restaurant chain last year.
Cochran holds a chemical engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and a master of business administration from Pacific Lutheran University. Following graduation from Vanderbilt, she entered the United States Army where she ultimately served as a Captain in the Ninth Infantry Division.
Cochran served as the CEO at the nation’s third largest book retailer, Books-A-Million, Inc. from 2004 to 2009. She also served as that company’s president from 1999 and as its chief financial officer from 1993 to 1999. As vice president, finance at Books-A-Million, she was part of the leadership team which took the company public in 1992 and completed a secondary offering in October 1993.
Prior to joining Books-A-Million, Cochran held the position of vice president, corporate finance of SunTrust Securities, Inc., a subsidiary of SunTrust Banks, Inc., for seven years.
Cochran received a Distinguished Alumnus Award and was inducted into the School of Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni in 2008.