Darden Restaurants Appoints Gene Lee As Interim CEO - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) said its new Board has appointed Gene Lee, previously President and Chief Operating Officer, as interim Chief Executive Officer or CEO. Lee succeeds Clarence Otis, who has stepped down from his role as CEO, effective immediately.

The company also announced the appointment of Jeffrey Smith as Independent Non-Executive Chairman of the Board.

Darden's new Board of Directors are Betsy Atkins, Margaret Shan Atkins, Jean Birch, Bradley Blum, Peter Feld, James Fogarty, Cynthia Jamison,illiam Lenehan, Lionel Nowell, III, Jeffrey Smith, Charles Sonsteby, and Alan Stillman.