Red Lobster named Horace Dawson chief executive officer and Paul Kenny chairman of the board.

Since 2014, Dawson served as Red Lobster’s executive vice president and general counsel. Dawson is a 30-year restaurant industry veteran having served as the vice president and division general counsel for Darden Restaurants and vice president of business affairs and general counsel of Hard Rock Cafe International. Dawson also practiced in the entertainment, securities, corporate and communications areas for Telemundo Network, the Spanish language television broadcaster and for New York City law firms.

Kenny has more than 50 years of experience in the food industry, most recently holding positions as chief executive officer and executive advisor of the Minor Food Group and serving as a director on the Board of Minor International.