Denny Post
Denny Marie Post is a former public company CEO with a 35+ year track record of strategic innovation and team building for iconic brands including Starbucks, T-Mobile, Yum Brands, Burger King and, most recently, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers. She is currently engaged as Senior Advisor for US Foodservice to the LiveKindly Collective, a global plant-based food company.
Denny’s focus on delivering innovative products and services to consumers while inspiring both customer and employee loyalty have been central to her track record of breakthrough results in generating profits, incremental revenue, and enhanced brand recognition.
Denny’s career began as an advisor in marketing strategy to Fortune 500 clients at leading firms including Whittle Communications and Tracy-Locke/BBDO Advertising. This client-based perspective informed her general management, marketing, and innovation leadership with Yum Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut), Burger King, T-Mobile, Starbucks, and Red Robin.
Innovation has been a major theme in Denny’s career. She conceived, developed, and marketed best-selling products for KFC, Burger King, Starbucks, and T-Mobile, including Pike Place Roast at Starbucks, Red’s Tavern Double and Finest lines at Red Robin, Popcorn Chicken at KFC, and Chicken Fries at Burger King. Innovation has also characterized the way Denny has organized partnerships and business units to improve business operations and customer service, including creating a co-branded opportunity to support self-delivery and to drive sales at Red Robin. Marketing has been yet another source of innovation, with her successes including the launch of the first Android phone in partnership with Google and engaging Eric Clapton to benefit his charitable cause promoting the Fender MyTouch phone at T-Mobile.
Denny’s ability to turn around under-performing brands and organizations has benefited from her ability to inspire employee and customer loyalty. At Red Robin she oversaw the most successful loyalty program in Casual Dining industry with 8 million+ members and opened communication with employees to produce best-in-class engagement and “intent to stay” metrics. Her commitment to gender parity in board and leadership ranks was recognized by the industry winning coveted SOAR and Golden Chain awards.
Board and industry service have also been hallmarks of Denny’s career. She currently serves on the board of Travel + Leisure (TNL) and is a member of the Governance and Compensation committees. She also serves on the board of Vital Farms (VITL), a rapid growth B Corp based in Austin where she is Lead Director. She recently joined the board of Libbey Glass, a 200-year-old American manufacturing company which recently emerged from bankruptcy and is turning toward the future. She is a member of the Audit committee for Libbey. Denny also joined the board of Bluestone Lane Holdings, LLC in 2020, an Australian-inspired chain of cafes and coffeehouses backed by RSE Ventures. She is past chair of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and previously served as a board member of Red Robin (RRGB), the Denver branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, Blue Dog Bakery Natural Dog Treats and Prosperity Organic Foods.