Darden Restaurants' Board of Directors has appointed Eugene Lee to serve as its chief executive officer effective immediately. Lee previously held the position on an interim basis.

Lee brings more than 30 years of restaurant operating experience to the role, including serving as Darden's president and chief operating officer for one year. Prior to that Lee served as president of the company's Specialty Restaurant Group (SRG) for six years. He joined Darden in 2007 as part of its acquisition of RARE Hospitality International, where Lee served as president and chief operating officer.