Thompson Joins Duke Realty’s Board

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Duke Realty Corporation named Warren Thompson, chair and president of Thompson Hospitality, to its board of directors.

Thompson Hospitality is one of the largest retail food and facilities management firms in the United States, operating more than 20 restaurants in the Washington DC metro area and New York City and providing contract food and facility management services to Fortune 100 companies, major medical centers and urban school districts around the globe.

“On behalf of the board of directors of Duke Realty, we are pleased to welcome Warren Thompson and look forward to his insightful contributions,” says William Cavanaugh, retired chairman and chief executive officer of Progress Energy. “Warren is a successful entrepreneur who has steadily grown and expanded his business from its founding in 1992 into a multi-brand restaurant company and worldwide contract food and facilities management services provider.”

“Duke Realty feels fortunate to have Warren join our board of directors and believes that he will provide invaluable guidance on our company’s strategic direction going forward,” says James B. Connor, chairman and chief executive officer of Duke Realty. “Warren’s background in operations, management and finance lends itself well to our business and will give us new perspectives as we continue to build and strengthen our company.”

Thompson began his career with Marriott Corporation after earning a bachelor’s degree from Hampden-Sydney College and an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. He formed Thompson Hospitality in 1992 and entered the retail restaurant business with the purchase of more than 30 Big Boy Restaurants. Thompson Hospitality subsequently purchased the Austin Grill restaurant chain, followed by the acquisition and creation of several other retail dining brands, including the American Tap Room, brb (be right burger), Willie T’s Lobster Shack, Hen Quarter, Hen Penny, Neapolitan Express, Matchbox and, most recently, The Delegate.

In 1993, Thompson Hospitality entered the food contract services business and, in 1997, formed a partnership with Compass Group to expand its operations and expand into the facilities management sector. Thompson Hospitality has been recognized numerous times as a leading minority-owned company.

“I am delighted to join the board of directors of Duke Realty and work with its other directors and management team members to continue the success this company has had for more than 46 years,” says Thompson. “Duke Realty is a leading provider of logistics facilities in the United States and a well-managed, forward-looking company. I am excited to be involved in its continued growth.”

Thompson serves on the board of directors of Compass Group North America and Federal Realty Investment Trust. He is a former trustee of the Darden School Foundation and, in 2018, established the Warren M. Thompson Scholarship to help attract students who value diversity to the school.