Mike Axiotis is a capable, energetic, knowledgeable, forward-thinking, and impactful executive. His deep wisdom and expertise are invaluable assets, forged from over 25 years of progressively responsible management experience with the Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, along with five years as the Owner/Operator of his start-up restaurant and seven years with his family’s restaurant. Whether through our extensive community outreach, strong employee engagement, or high levels of guest satisfaction and loyalty, Mike’s influence is evident in all the greatest aspects and values of our organization.
Mike is a shining example of the American Dream. Through tireless hard work, a love for the hospitality business and people, and a commitment to excellence, Mike’s rise was well earned. Starting as an Assistant Manager in LVRG’s early days, when it consisted of just three Red Robins, he rapidly earned promotions: first to GM, then to a go-to turnaround GM for underperforming operations. By improving staffing, boosting employee morale, and implementing effective operational systems, Mike consistently increased sales, profitability, and guest satisfaction. As Executive GM overseeing two restaurants, he was soon promoted to Regional Operations Director in charge of four restaurants. Mike led the start-up and management of three new restaurants and helped increase revenues for his seven Red Robin locations to $22M. In 2010, Mike was promoted to VP of Operations for all seventeen restaurants, with combined revenues of $48M. He added four more restaurants, bringing our portfolio to twenty-one locations and over 2,000 team members, with revenues exceeding $70M. In 2015, Mike rose to Executive VP of Operations, and two years later, was promoted to President. In July 2018, he was elected to succeed our retiring CEO, Jim Ryan, as President and CEO of LVRG. Since becoming CEO, Mike Axiotis has strategically diversified our business from one brand to multiple major brands, creating new revenue streams and growing us beyond $100M. He views his success as an opportunity to give back, which he has done through impactful community involvement and significant restaurant association board work.
