The Orlando, Florida-headquartered Red Lobster chain has announced that Kelli Valade will be its next chief executive officer. She will assume the post on August 2, taking over from Kim Lopdrup, who plans to retire after heading the operation for 14 years.
Founded in 1968, Red Lobster is today the world’s largest seafood restaurant company, operating more than 700 outlets and employing approximately 55,000 people around the world from North America and Ecuador to the Middle East, Asia and Oceana. In addition to lobster, its casual dining menu features shrimp, scallop, claim strip, salmon and whitefish dinners as well as poultry and meat dishes, bowls, sandwiches, soups and desserts.
Valade comes to Red Lobster from Black Box Intelligence, where she has been president and chief executive officer since 2019. Prior to that, she spent over 22 years at Brinker International, including serving as brand president for Coppell, Texas-headquartered Chili’s Grill & Bar.
While at Brinker, Valade also held other leadership positions including chief operating officer and senior vice president of human resources. As president, she was responsible for over 80,000 employees and more than 1,600 restaurants.
“When I announced my plan to retire, I promised our people we would recruit an outstanding new chief executive officer to lead Red Lobster to even greater success over the next generation, and I absolutely believe Kelli is that person,” said Lopdrup. “Her experience and deep industry insights coupled with her integrity and commitment to fostering a purpose-driven culture are the perfect fit as we begin this new chapter. I have never been more excited about Red Lobster’s future.”
Red Lobster Chairman Rittirong Boonmechote added: “We are delighted to welcome Kelli as our next ceo. She has proven that she can lead large casual dining companies very successfully, and she brings all the key skills that we were hoping to find. She is the ideal leader to help fulfill our vision of making Red Lobster where the world goes for seafood, now and for generations.”
Valade has been passionate about the foodservice 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 front lines of the restaurants delivering a great experience to guests every day,” she said. “Red Lobster has incredible people and an amazing culture in place, along with a solid business model and a strong foundation as an iconic and differentiated brand. My job as the brand’s new leader is to inspire and develop our people while also leveraging the brand’s strengths and finding ways to build on them for even greater success. I am looking forward to a very bright future together.”
Valade currently serves on the board of the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) as well as on the executive committee of the board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum (WFF). She also currently sits on the board of trustees for the Shelton School in Dallas.
