Former CKE executive Patty Trevino has been named chief marketing officer of Red Lobster, a new position for the casual dining seafood restaurant.
At CKE she was senior vice president of marketing for sister chains Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s.
In her new role she will oversee Orlando, Fla.-based Red Lobster’s marketing, communications, customer experience and loyalty, and culinary teams.
Kelli Valade, who was appointed Red Lobster’s CEO in August, said hiring Trevino is part of her plan to build a great leadership team.
“Since I joined Red Lobster a few months ago, my goal has been to build an unstoppable, aligned team of expert leaders, that come together to create amazing support for our guests and our employees,” Valade said. “I am absolutely thrilled to have Patty join our already incredibly talented team and take on the critical role of aligning and integrating our guest analysis with our menu and message strategies.”
Valade told Nation's Restaurant News that creating the position of CMO was also part of her broader strategy.
"In my experience, it's important to have a fully integrated approach to the way we develop and deploy our business solutions to the restaurants, and this role will be critical to that effort," she said.
Prior to CKE, Trevino also held marketing positions at Burger King, Outback Steakhouse and Bonefish Grill.
In a release announcing her appointment, Red Lobster said Trevino is known “for her ability to innovate, lead and implement initiatives to maximize sales and profits in fast-paced retail environments,” and that she has experience “identifying untapped opportunities, successfully managing and inspiring teams, and delivering best-in-class work to meet business objectives.”
Red Lobster’s new CMO said she was looking forward to working for such a well-known restaurant.
“Red Lobster is an iconic brand. Everyone knows Red Lobster — and of course, the Cheddar Bay Biscuits,” Trevino said. “I grew up in a small Texas border town, and I remember how excited I was when I finally got to go to Red Lobster. Now, years later, I still think the Red Lobster brand is pretty special, which is why I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join this incredible team. I think there's a great opportunity to tap into the essence of the brand and bring that to life for the next generation.”
Trevino received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, and an MBA from University of the Incarnate Word, also in San Antonio.
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