Red Lobster has appointed Kelli Valade as the company’s next chief executive, taking over from Kim Lopdrup who retires after 14 years leading the seafood restaurant brand.
Due to begin her tenure on 2 August, Ms Valade comes to Red Lobster from Black Box Intelligence where she has served as president and chief executive since 2019. Prior to this she spent more than 22 years at Brinker International, holding positions such as chief operating officer, senior vice president of human resources and, most recently, brand president for Chili's Grill & Bar where she was responsible for more than 1,600 restaurants.
Ms Valade has been passionate about the restaurant industry since the age of 16, when she landed her first restaurant job as a hostess. “I love the restaurant industry because it’s about so much more than great food – it’s about the great people who are truly heroes on the frontlines of the restaurants delivering a great experience to guests every day,” she said.
Ms Valade currently serves on the boards of the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and Seasoned as well as on the executive committee of the board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum. She also currently sits on the Board of Trustees for the Shelton School in Dallas and has featured in the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 50 Power list several times.
