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Red Lobster names Chip Wade EVP of operationsRed Lobster names Chip Wade EVP of operations

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

July 24, 2012

1 Min Read
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Ron Ruggless

Red Lobster has promoted Chip Wade to the position of executive vice president of operations.

Wade succeeds Doug Green, whom the casual-dining chain said left “to pursue other opportunities.”

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Wade has been with Red Lobster’s parent company, Darden Restaurants Inc., for 11 years. Most recently, he was Darden’s senior vice president of enterprise operations. Previously, he served as a divisional senior vice president of operations for Red Lobster, overseeing about 100 restaurants in seven mid-Atlantic states.

As of the end of May, Red Lobster had 677 units in the United States and 27 in Canada. Orlando, Fla.-based Darden had 1,994 casual-dining restaurants across its Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and Eddie V’s brands.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless
 

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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