Red Lobster appoints COO

Former Maggiano's Little Italy executive joins the Red Lobster leadership team.

Red Lobster is announcing the appointment of Larry Konecny as chief operating officer. In this role, Konecny will lead the operational strategy for Red Lobster's 545 restaurants across the United States and Canada. Reporting directly to CEO Damola Adamolekun, he will drive initiatives to deliver elevated food quality, customer service and operational efficiency while fostering a culture rooted in teamwork and excellence.

"Larry brings an exceptional combination of operational expertise, a passion for developing high-performing teams, and a genuine understanding of what it takes to build strong restaurant brands," said Adamolekun. "As Red Lobster advances on its comeback journey, having a world-class operations leader is essential. Larry's impressive track record and authentic leadership style make him the perfect fit for this role."

Konecny most recently served as chief operating officer and chief concept officer at Maggiano's Little Italy, where he led the brand through a period of record-breaking sales and profit growth while fostering the guest and team experiences. His tenure as vice president of innovation and restaurant support at Maggiano's included leading a significant menu transformation, revitalizing lunch traffic and leveraging the brand's story to drive double-digit growth in key categories.

With 30 years of experience in restaurant operations, Konecny has consistently demonstrated his ability to lead expansion efforts, reverse sales trends and optimize key operational metrics. His philosophy centers on developing stable, high-quality leadership and building engaged teams to achieve excellence at all levels.

"I am honored to join Red Lobster at such an important moment in its history," said Konecny. "Red Lobster is a cherished brand, known for its exceptional food and dedicated people. With a solid foundation already in place, we are poised for an exciting comeback. I look forward to working with this talented team to drive our shared success and shape the future of this iconic brand."

Konecny is also dedicated to community service, sitting on the Dean's Advisory Board for the University of Houston Hilton School of Hospitality and the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. He holds a Master of Business Administration from North Central College and a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Houston.

Source: Red Lobster Seafood Co.

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