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Red Lobster Named Andy Pitts as New Marketing Chief

The restaurant chain has appointed the former agency executive to lead its marketing strategy.

Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Advertising

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Red Lobster has appointed former agency executive Andy Pitts as its new chief marketing officer to lead the chain's ongoing turnaround efforts. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Red Lobster has officially appointed Andy Pitts as its new chief marketing officer. Pitts replaces Nichole Robillard, who departed the role in late 2025.

Why it matters

The leadership change arrives as the Orlando-based restaurant chain works to stabilize its operations following its 2024 bankruptcy filing. Pitts brings significant industry experience to the brand as it seeks to rebuild its market presence.

Andy Pitts joins the company with 13 years of experience from his time at BarkleyOKRP. He previously held leadership roles managing brands including Fogo de Chao, Dairy Queen, and Wingstop.

The players

Andy Pitts

He is the newly appointed chief marketing officer who previously served as an executive at BarkleyOKRP.

Red Lobster

This Orlando-based casual dining chain operates numerous locations and filed for bankruptcy in 2024.

BarkleyOKRP

This firm is an advertising agency that has acted as the agency of record for Red Lobster since 2022.

Nichole Robillard

She is the former chief marketing officer who concluded her tenure with the restaurant brand in late 2025.

The details

Pitts arrives from BarkleyOKRP, which has served as Red Lobster's agency of record since 2022. The appointment was confirmed via email by the company and announced by Pitts himself through a LinkedIn post.

Timeline

  1. BarkleyOKRP became the agency of record in 2022.

  2. Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in 2024.

  3. Nichole Robillard left the chief marketing officer position in late 2025.

  4. Andy Pitts announced his new appointment on September 29, 2026.

Market Landscape

This leadership transition follows the 2024 Red Lobster bankruptcy filing, signaling an attempt to modernize brand outreach. The move positions the company to leverage Pitts' experience with established dining brands against ongoing competition in the casual dining sector.

Customers may eventually see changes in how the brand promotes its menu and value offerings across local markets. These shifts in marketing strategy are designed to stabilize the business following its recent restructuring.

The takeaway

The addition of an experienced executive suggests the company is prioritizing brand leadership to navigate its post-bankruptcy recovery. Consumers can anticipate a potential refresh in how the chain presents itself as it competes for market share.

What happens next

Red Lobster is expected to issue a formal corporate announcement regarding the leadership hire in the coming weeks.

Further reading

For more on industry shifts, visit the Advertising section.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Nation's Restaurant News.

Live Poll

Do you trust that new leadership will improve the quality of your favorite chain restaurants?