Darden's Lee Shuffles Executive Hands

The new titles and responsibilities start today for Bradley D. Blum, 48 and Dick Rivera, 55, exiting presidents of the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurant divisions. Blum and Rivera move into the newly created positions of vice chairman, reporting directly to chairman Jeo R. Lee.

Drew Madsen, 45, executive vice president/marketing, Olive Garden (488 restaurants), is Olive Garden's new president. Edna Morris, 50, executive vice president/operations, Red Lobster (663 restaurants), is Red Lobster's new president.

Clarence Otis, 45, senior vice president, is promoted to executive vice president; retains his job as chief financial officer; and takes on more responsibility in the technology sector. Linda Dimopoulos, senior vice president/chief information officer, will report to Otis.

Reporting to Blum are Madsen; Bob Mock, president, Smokey Bones (16 restaurants); and Barry Moullett, senior vice president/ purchasing, distribution and food safety.

Reporting to Rivera will be Morris; Gary Heckel, president, Bahama Breeze (26 restaurants); and Laurie Burns, senior vice president/development which includes real estate, design and construction.

The timing for the corporate changes come as Darden Restaurants experiences the best year in its 35-year existence.

"Olive Garden and Red Lobster are performing very well with positive momentum; Bahama Breeze and Smokey Bones are off to a strong start; and we are even more focused on additional expansion opportunities in casual dining, both through internal and development and acquisition," Lee says in the statement.

Darden's common was trading at $40.59 per share today on the New York Stock exchange, unchanged from the last closing March 27.