Dive Brief:
- Red Lobster has appointed Brad Hill as its chief financial officer and executive vice president of transformation, the chain said in a press release Monday. The company also appointed Kristen Briede as chief global development officer.
- Prior to this appointment, Hill served as P.F. Chang’s CEO for for about six months last year until he left in November. Briede, Hill and Red Lobster’s current CEO Damola Adamolekun all had overlapping tenures at P.F. Chang’s.
- These executive hires support Red Lobster’s ongoing drive to improve its operational foundation and agility, and help boost customer experience as it focuses on long-term growth.
Dive Insight:
In his new role, Hill will oversee Red Lobster’s finance organization as well as its planning, forecasting and stakeholder reporting. He will also work with operations to improve performance. Hill will lead the company’s real estate strategy, including negotiations, economic analysis and deal execution. Hill succeeds Bob Baker, who has left the company.
Hill brings experience with both finance and operations from P.F. Chang’s, where he held multiple executive positions for over eight years, including CFO and chief operating officer, according to his LinkedIn profile. While at P.F. Chang’s Hill helped “drive sustained performance and executed major real estate initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to the press release.
In Briede’s new role, she will oversee Red Lobster’s asset-light growth and brand development, including domestic and international franchising, travel and airport formats, and strategic partnerships including retail and licensing opportunities.
Briede has “a track record of launching new growth channels and putting in place the systems, standards, and partner governance required to scale sustainably,” the press release said. She has worked in various roles helping grow franchising and partnership platforms at top restaurant brands, including P.F. Chang’s and Steak ‘n Shake.
Red Lobster has been attempting a comeback since its emergence from bankruptcy. Under CEO Damola Adamolekun’s leadership, the chain has focused on improving the chain’s menu, bringing back favorites like popcorn shrimp and hush puppies and offering items like seafood boils, which went viral. Red Lobster has seen an increase in traffic at the chain. However, it could also shutter more restaurants due to costs. But the new executive roles suggest the chain is looking to grow in high-volume, non-traditional locations and through global franchising.
Correction: A previous version of this article misstated how long Brad Hill served as CEO at P.F. Chang’s. He served in this role from April to November 2025.
