James B. Adamson

{{short description|American business man|bot=PearBOT 5}}

James Adamson is an American business man who was CEO of Burger King (1993–1995), CEO and chairman of Denny's and its parent company Advantica (1993–2002),{{cite web|url=http://www.allbusiness.com/company-activities-management/company-structures/6017289-1.html |title=Marchioli Named President & CEO Of Advantica and Denny's; Adamson to Continue as Chairman |date=4 January 2001 |publisher=Business Wire |access-date=9 March 2010 }} and Kmart (2002–2003).{{cite news |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-326087.html |title=Kmart Chief Executive Resigns |last=El Boghdady |first=Dina |date=12 March 2002 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=9 March 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.searsholdings.com/pubrel/kmart/htm/pr030119.htm |title=Kmart Promotes President Julian C. Day to Chief Executive Office as company prepares to emerge from Chapter 11 |date=19 January 2003 |publisher=Sears Holdings |access-date=9 March 2010 }}

He is noted as a turnaround specialist having helped restructure of drugstore chain Revco after its purchase by CVS Caremark in 1997. He was instrumental in restoring Denny's reputation after a series of racial incidents occurred at several of its stores during the mid-1990s.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/12/business/chief-is-out-as-kmart-tries-to-get-footing-for-comeback.html?scp=1&sq=James%20B.%20Adamson&st=cse |title=Chief Is Out As Kmart Tries To Get Footing For Comeback |last=Hays |first=Constance |date=12 March 2002 |work=New York Times |pages=c1 |access-date=9 March 2010}} He was given the position of Kmart CEO in an attempt to swing the company's finances around in March 2002.{{cite web |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/4294368-1.html |title=Kmart CEO Conaway Leaves Company |date=11 March 2002 |publisher=Retail Merchandiser magazine |access-date=9 March 2010}}