Kemi Ajumobi 
Damola Adamolekun
CEO, Red Lobster
Damola Adamolekun is one of several Nigerians in the diaspora that brings a smile to my face when his name is mentioned. From a great career at Goldman Sachs in investment banking, where he worked on high-profile transactions and gained a front-row seat to the intricacies of global markets, to becoming a first-time CEO for P.F. Chang’s, where under his leadership, the restaurant chain began generating revenues of approximately $1 billion a year, an organisation where he said he learnt the importance of adaptability, to gracing interviews like the Wall Street Journal, Today Show, CBS Evening News, CNN, USA Today, Fortune, Forbes, to mention a few, and now becoming the CEO of Red Lobster, a company, that in May 2024 filed for bankruptcy, Damola has surely had his hands full in his various roles till date, but he certainly always leaves his footprint of excellence in all of them.
If you call him Mr. Fix it, you won’t be wrong because he surely knows how to turn things around. Since the organisation officially signed out of bankruptcy, Damola has been on his toes doing his best to revamp the company to give his customers amazing experiences, and that is what their 544 restaurants nationwide are existing for, customer’s satisfaction.
When asked how he was able to make significant changes in the company, he said “We listen attentively to our customers, we read the comments, my marketing team reads the comments and I personally do too. We also react quickly to deliver to people what they want. Keep commenting, we’ll keep cracking, we’ll keep moving.” He stated.
One of the ways he is ensuring to bring the experience back and better is by ensuring younger dinners are back into the restaurant, through the menu reinvention, ensuring that every meal comes with an experience. For instance, the seafood boil. From the shaking of the mix in the bag while you watch, to the release of steam and all, Damola believes that the experience, red carpet reception, music, lightening, ambience and all is what will make any customer return and he isn’t playing small in this regard.
Facts? Red Lobster is the world’s largest seafood buyer. Asked how tariff is telling on the business since the majority of seafood in America is imported, and he answered. According to Damola, “The majority of our food is bought from North America, Canada, because we buy lobsters and crabs mostly in North America, but we do import products as well and on those products we’ll pay a tariff like everybody else. This impacts our business but we do not intend to do price increases for the rest of the year 2025, our goal is to manage through.” He stated.
One thing I admire about Damola is how he is personally involved in telling and retelling the metamorphosed story of Red Lobster, most importantly, sharing their offerings. He isn’t leaving the work for his marketing team alone; he is right there, personally involved in marketing the branding even as CEO, and social media is one of such avenues.
Wondering how he has been consistent in showing results in whatever he lays his hands upon? Well, his father’s advice has long been his guide. Daddy would always tell Damola “Whatever you do, aim to be the best at it. Don’t do things half way. If you are going to do it, do the best you possibly can and your life will be pretty good.” Now, you know why he excels in what he does.
Optimistic about the company, Damola says “I am excited to be leading the greatest comeback of the restaurant industry. Red Lobster has been around for 60 years and they have an amazing future ahead.”