Bloomin’ Brands Inc., parent to Outback Steakhouse and other casual-dining brands, has promoted Michael Kappitt to chief marketing officer, the company said Tuesday.
Kappitt previously served as chief marketing officer for Outback Steakhouse. He succeeds Jody Bilney, who resigned earlier this year to join Humana Inc. as chief consumer officer.
“Mike has been a driving force behind re-energizing the Outback brand through creativity and industry-changing innovation,” Liz Smith, chief executive of Tampa, Fla.-based Bloomin’ Brands, said in a statement.
Kappitt joined Bloomin’ Brands in 2011 as head of marketing for Outback and introduced such promotions as the million-steak giveaway to introduce the chain’s wood-fired grills, and the NASCAR-targeted “Bloomin’ Mondays.”
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Before joining Outback, Kappitt worked for nine years with Burger King, most recently as chief marketing officer for North America.
Bloomin' Brands has nearly 1,500 restaurants in 48 states, two territories and 21 nations. Its brands include Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Roy's.
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