GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., (NASDAQ: RRGB), a casual dining restaurant chain focused on serving an innovative selection of high-quality gourmet burgers in a family-friendly atmosphere, today announced the appointment of Michael Kaplan as senior vice president and chief legal officer.  Kaplan will be responsible for oversight of all legal matters for Red Robin, including risk management, compliance and corporate governance.

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Kaplan brings to Red Robin more than 20 years of professional legal experience, with a career that includes strategic legal leadership in a variety of industries including defense and aerospace,  electronics manufacturing and consumer products.

"Michael is an exceptional addition to the Red Robin team.  His talents will elevate our ability to navigate in a rapidly changing legal landscape and achieve superior business results," said Steve Carley, Red Robin's chief executive officer. "We look forward to tapping into Michael's extensive and seasoned experience, his solid counsel on regulatory, governance and other key legal matters, and his down-to-earth nature and quick-wit, all of which will be a great fit for the Red Robin team." 

Before joining Red Robin, Kaplan served as senior vice president and general counsel, as well as chief security officer and corporate secretary, for Tempe, Ariz.-based StandardAero, a leading provider of maintenance, repair and overhaul services to the aerospace industry, where he led global legal strategy, compliance and corporate governance.  Prior to that, he was a partner with the international law firm of Greenberg Traurig, L.L.P. in Phoenix, Ariz., where he focused on corporate law and served as outside general counsel to public companies.  Kaplan's legal career also includes serving as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for Styling Technology Corporation, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based consumer products company specializing in professional salon product brand acquisitions. 

Kaplan earned a Juris Doctorate degree from Stanford Law School, Stanford, Calif., and a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and government from the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Va.

About Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB)

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (www.redrobin.com), a casual dining restaurant chain founded in 1969 that operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Red Robin International, Inc., is the gourmet burger expert, famous for serving more than two dozen craveable, high-quality burgers with Bottomless Steak Fries^® in a fun environment. Red Robin's award-winning burgers have earned the title of Best Burger in the full-service category in the Zagat Fast Food Survey four years in a row. In addition to its many burger offerings, Red Robin serves a wide variety of salads, soups, appetizers, entrees, desserts and signature Mad Mixology^® Beverages. There currently are 485 Red Robin locations across the United States and Canada, including 345 company-owned Red Robin restaurants and five Red Robin's Burger Works locations, and 135 Red Robin restaurants operating under franchise agreements. Red Robin… YUMMM^®! Connect with Red Robin on Facebook and Twitter. 

SOURCE Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.