Scott Hudler, most recently chief marketing officer at Whataburger, will join Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. as CMO on September 8, succeeding Russ Klein, who has held the role on an interim basis since April 2025.
Hudler's résumé spans some of the most recognizable names in foodservice and retail. Beyond Whataburger, he has held senior marketing roles at Torchy's Tacos, Dunkin' Brands, Popeyes, DICK'S Sporting Goods, and Mars — a career arc that cuts across fast casual, QSR, and full-service segments. At Whataburger, he directed the chain's brand, digital, and customer engagement strategies, giving him direct experience scaling loyalty and digital programs inside a major burger brand.
Scope of the Role
At Red Robin, Hudler will carry responsibility for a broad marketing portfolio: brand strategy, advertising, digital marketing, the Red Robin Royalty loyalty program, culinary innovation and development, guest insights, and marketing communications. That scope signals how central the CMO seat is to the company's so-called First Choice Strategy — an operating and marketing framework the chain has been executing to sharpen guest relevance and drive visit frequency.
Dave Pace, President and CEO of Red Robin, cited Hudler's "guest-first mindset" as a key factor in the hire and framed the appointment as an accelerant for the brand's next growth phase. Klein, for his part, is credited internally with laying data-driven groundwork during the interim period and will remain in a consultative capacity through the end of 2026 to support the transition.
What It Means for Operators
For the casual dining segment, the hire is a reminder of how aggressively full-service burger chains are competing for marketing talent that can bridge traditional brand building with digital and loyalty mechanics. Operators tracking casual dining recovery trends will note that Red Robin is doubling down on loyalty infrastructure — the Royalty program spans nearly 500 locations across the U.S. and Canada — at a time when frequency and retention are the metrics that matter most to investors and franchisees alike.
Hudler's background in restaurant technology and digital engagement also positions Red Robin to push harder on personalization and CRM-driven marketing, areas where fast-casual competitors have held a structural edge. His stated priority of inspiring loyalty and driving frequency aligns directly with the financial levers casual dining brands are pulling hardest heading into the back half of the decade.
This story was first reported with support from Food & Beverage Magazine.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
