Kim Lopdrup BBA '80
Chief Executive Officer, Red Lobster Seafood Co..
Kim Lopdrup is CEO of Red Lobster Seafood Co., the world’s largest seafood restaurant company. Kim previously served as President of the Specialty Restaurant Group and New Business for Darden. 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 profitability. Before joining Red Lobster, 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 (now called Dunkin’ Brands), the franchisor of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins. He turned around Dunkin’ Donuts’ 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. And, as CEO of Allied Domecq’s 3,500-unit international division, he took that business from record losses to record profits and dramatically accelerated its growth. Kim began his career in brand management at Procter & Gamble, working on Folgers and High Point coffees and Citrus Hill orange juice. He is currently on the board of Wawa, Inc., an innovative convenience store retailer. He also serves on the board of Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and was named “Board Member of the Year” in 2011. Kim earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from William & Mary and an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.
