Denny Marie Post is a former public company CEO with a 40+ year record of successful strategic innovation and team building for iconic brands including Starbucks, T-Mobile, Yum Brands, Burger King, and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers.
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.
Today, Denny lends her experience as a former CEO and her deep understanding of consumer behavior to governance and critical strategic conversations as a board director. She currently serves on the boards of Travel + Leisure (TNL) where she is a member of the Governance and Compensation committees and Vital Farms (VITL), a rapid growth B Corp where she is Lead Director. She also currently serves on the boards of Libbey Glass as a member of the Audit committee, True Food Kitchen and Bluestone Lane Holdings, LLC.
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 is a major theme in Denny’s career. She conceived, developed, and marketed best-selling products for KFC, Burger King, Starbucks, and T-Mobile. Innovation has also characterized the way Denny has organized partnerships and business units to improve business operations and customer service, including pioneering a co-branded agreement with Donatos Pizza to support self-delivery and to drive sales at Red Robin.
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 led 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. She was recognized for her commitment to gender parity in board and leadership when she received industry coveted SOAR and Golden Chain awards.
Board and industry service have long been hallmarks of Denny’s career. She is past chair of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and previously served as a board member of P.F. Chang’s, Red Robin (RRGB), the Denver branch of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, Blue Dog Bakery Natural Dog Treats, and Prosperity Organic Foods.
