Darden Restaurants Names Eugene Lee CEO - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI) announced that it has appointed current Interim Chief Executive Officer Eugene I. Lee, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer and director, effective immediately.

Lee has more than 30 years of restaurant operating experience. Prior to his appointment as Interim CEO, Lee served as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company for one year, and prior to that as President of the Company's Specialty Restaurant Group (SRG) for six years.

Lee joined Darden in 2007 as part of its acquisition of RARE Hospitality International, where Mr. Lee served as President and Chief Operating Officer. Lee had been with RARE since January 1997, serving initially as Executive Vice President of Operations for its Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse concept. He became Executive Vice President of Operations for RARE's LongHorn Steakhouse division in October 1997 and was promoted to COO of RARE the following year. In 2001, he was named President of RARE and elected to its Board of Directors. Prior to RARE, Mr. Lee served as Senior Vice President of Operations for Uno Restaurant Corp. and in several management positions for York Steak House Systems.

Since a CEO has now been chosen, the Company will turn to its search for the next Chief Financial Officer to succeed Bradford Richmond upon his retirement, which will include both external and internal candidates.