Red Lobster has hired a man who used to run its creative agency as its next CMO. Andy Pitts, formerly the EVP of brand leadership and experience at BarkleyOKRP, is stepping into the chief marketing officer role after Nichole Robillard left the position late last year.
Pitts made the announcement on LinkedIn on Tuesday. He has worked closely with the seafood chain for several years, ever since BarkleyOKRP was named its agency of record in 2022. That partnership followed the chain’s 2024 bankruptcy, and the agency’s work included a series of ads featuring CEO Damola Adamolekun reintroducing the brand to customers.
Pitts’ Agency Track Record
Pitts spent more than 13 years at BarkleyOKRP, where he also worked with other clients beyond Red Lobster. His LinkedIn profile lists three other brands he touched during his tenure:
- Fogo de Chao
- Dairy Queen
- Wingstop
His resume shows he has handled a wide range of clients during his time at the agency, though the announcement does not specify which projects outside of Red Lobster he led.
The CMO Seat Has Been Empty For Months
Red Lobster has not had a permanent CMO since Robillard left after just over a year in the role. Orlando-based Red Lobster has been working to rebuild since its bankruptcy, and the chain has stayed active on the marketing front.
Earlier this year, Red Lobster brought back its Endless Shrimp promotion for the first time since before the bankruptcy filing. The move marked a return to a longtime staple of the chain’s menu, one that had been absent during the company’s restructuring.
In an email, Red Lobster confirmed Pitts’ hiring and said there will be a formal announcement in the coming weeks.
Pitts Takes Over With A Personal Stake
In his LinkedIn post, Pitts said Red Lobster was his dad’s favorite restaurant and that it is now his son’s favorite as well.
“Red Lobster is an American icon writing its next chapter,” he wrote. “I don’t take that responsibility lightly, and I’m grateful to be doing the work beside a team that loves this place as much as our guests do.”
The appointment comes as the chain continues to recover from bankruptcy. Pitts has been directly involved in shaping the chain’s creative direction for years, and his familiarity with the brand and its customer base is a clear advantage.
Red Lobster has found a CMO in the person who already knew how to market itself. That is a clever hire, and it is the kind of move that suggests the chain is thinking about its future with some clarity.
Source material: “Red Lobster hires ad agency exec as next CMO,” Nation's Restaurant News.
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