
UPDATE: This story has been updated to include a comment from Red Robin.
Red Robin CMO Kevin Mayer has left the company, the chain said in an SEC filing Tuesday.
A company spokesperson said in a statement that he left to pursue other opportunities. A replacement was not named. His departure was effective Tuesday.
Red Robin hired Mayer in May 2023 as part of a C-suite revamp under new CEO G.J. Hart. Mayer helped steer some major projects at the casual-dining chain, including a new loyalty program and a renewed emphasis on local marketing.
Before joining Red Robin, Mayer had a brief stint as CMO of Pedego, an electric bike company. Before that, he spent nearly eight years as chief growth and brand officer of BJ’s Restaurants. Previously he worked in automobile marketing, with stops at Volkswagen, GM, Subaru, Mitsubishi and Hyundai.
He leaves 500-unit chain in the midst of a three-year turnaround plan that has included changes to its food, labor model and marketing strategy. Those efforts began to bear fruit last quarter, when same-store sales rose 3.4% year over year.
"We thank Kevin for his contributions and wish him well in his future endeavors," the spokesperson said.
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