Damola Adamolekun is the  chief executive officer of Red Lobster, where he is leading one of America's most iconic restaurant brands through a historic turnaround. Appointed in 2024 to guide the company out of bankruptcy, he has become one of the most closely watched executives in the industry, and, at 37, one of the youngest to lead a restaurant company of its scale.

His path to the role was anything but ordinary. Born in Nigeria, Damola spent his early childhood in Zimbabwe and the Netherlands before his family settled in Springfield, Ill., when he was 9 years old. Raised in a household that prized education and held high expectations, he came to believe early that there were no ceilings on what he could achieve, a conviction that has shaped every chapter since.

He earned a bachelor's degree from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His career began in finance, with roles at Goldman Sachs, TPG, and Paulson & Company, where he learned to see the value in businesses others overlooked. That skill would define his career. He led the acquisition of PF Chang's and, at just 31, became its chief executive officer, stepping in during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and guiding the company through one of the most turbulent periods in restaurant history.

At Red Lobster, Damola has focused on restoring belief inside the organization, reconnecting the brand with the guests who love it, and positioning the company as a forward-looking leader in areas ranging from hospitality to technology. His leadership philosophy is grounded in a simple idea: excellence is the great equalizer, and it creates opportunity, freedom and lasting legacy.

Beyond his professional work, Damola is a passionate advocate for the idea that ambition should know no limits, particularly for young people from immigrant and underrepresented communities. He believes deeply in expanding the examples of success available to the next generation of leaders.

For his extraordinary impact in business, hospitality and cultural leadership, ONYX Magazine proudly honors Damola Adamolekun as the 2026 ONYX Magazine Men of Honor Man of the Year.

"Excellence is not an act, but a habit." – Aristotle