Kim Lopdrup retired from Red Lobster in August 2021 after leading the brand for 14 years as President or CEO.  He led three turnarounds, each under a different owner.  Red Lobster is the world’s largest seafood restaurant company and has regularly appeared on Forbes magazine’s list of America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Employers for Diversity. 

Since separating from Darden Restaurants in 2014, Red Lobster built an outstanding team and improved its food, service, convenience and value.  All of Red Lobster’s seafood is now traceable, sustainable and responsibly sourced.  Off-premises sales grew five-fold behind the introductions of Touchless Delivery, Rapid Red Curbside Pick-up and online ordering/payment.  My Red Lobster Rewards grew to over 10 million members and was named to Newsweek magazine’s 2021 list of America’s Best Loyalty Programs.  

Kim previously served as President of the Specialty Restaurant Group and New Business for Darden Restaurants, leading their Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, Bahama Breeze and Yard House brands as well as Darden’s International Division and Consumer Packaged Goods business.  Prior to that, he led Red Lobster as President for seven years, where he comprehensively revitalized the brand with initiatives such as the award-winning Today’s Fresh Fish program, wood-fire grilling, Bar Harbor Image remodels and a new logo -– resulting in industry-leading guest satisfaction and record profits.

Before joining Darden, Kim served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, North America, for Burger King Corporation.  He led that company’s ~8,500 North American restaurants to record guest satisfaction scores in both company-owned and franchised restaurants, contributing to a turn-around of declining same-store sales.

Earlier, Kim spent 16 years with Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants (since renamed Dunkin’ Brands), the franchisor of Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins.  He sharply turned around Dunkin’s previously declining coffee business as that brand’s Product Marketing Manager for Beverages.  Later, as Vice President of Marketing, he managed Dunkin’s iconic “Time to Make the Donuts” ad campaign starring Fred the Baker.  Finally, as Chief Executive Officer of Allied Domecq’s 3,500-unit international division, he dramatically accelerated growth and took that business from record losses to 82% above its previous profit record in just three years.

Kim began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, working on Folgers and High Point coffees and Citrus Hill orange juice.

He serves on the boards of Wawa, Inc. (since 2006), Bob Evans Restaurants (since 2017) and Botrista Technology (since 2021).  He previously served on the boards of Presto Automation and Rubio’s Restaurants (both traded on NASDAQ), 31 Ice Cream (traded in Japan), Kalera AS (traded in Norway) and Hiram Walker & Sons, Ltd. (a Canadian company). He also served on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida for 12 years, being named Board Member of the Year in 2011 and receiving National Service to Youth awards in 2010 and 2015.  Orlando Business Journal named Kim a “CEO of the Year” in 2016 and Florida Trend magazine has included him on their list of the 500 most influential people in Florida on multiple occasions.  He earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the College of William and Mary in 1980 and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School in 1984.  He is married and has four children.  He lives in Winter Park, FL.