ORLANDO, Fla., May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI - News) today reported that it has promoted Kim Lopdrup to President of Red Lobster and Senior Vice President of Darden from his position as Executive Vice President of Marketing for Red Lobster. In addition, the Company announced that Kelly Baltes, a regional Senior Vice President of Operations in Atlanta with Olive Garden, is being promoted to the position of Red Lobster Executive Vice President of Operations. Jane Diange, a regional Senior Vice President of Operations in Orlando, will assume the position of Red Lobster Senior Vice President of Human Resources. After 28 years of service to Red Lobster, Phil Robinson, Executive Vice President of Operations for Red Lobster, has announced his retirement. Robinson will remain with the company through September to ensure a smooth transition. All changes are effective May 31, 2004.
"I am pleased to announce these well-deserved promotions," said Joe R. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden Restaurants. "Kim is a proven, outstanding leader who has been in the restaurant industry since 1985. His dedication, knowledge and enthusiasm for our business are contagious. He is the right leader for Red Lobster as the company continues its progress towards a return to historical financial performance levels. Kelly Baltes and Jane Diange are outstanding operations leaders who have been successful throughout their restaurant careers. Phil Robinson has served Red Lobster admirably during his 28-year career. He will be greatly missed by all of us at Darden, and we wish him well as he begins a much deserved retirement."
Kim Lopdrup, 46, joined Red Lobster in 2003. Previously, he worked for Burger King Corporation, where he served as Chief Operating Officer, North America and for Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants, where he held increasingly senior positions in marketing and operations and led a highly successful turnaround of Allied's 3,500-unit International Division as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to Allied Domecq, he was employed by Procter & Gamble.
Kelly Baltes, 38, joined Olive Garden in 2001. He is a 19-year industry veteran who previously worked for Uno Restaurant Corporation for seven years where he was a Divisional Vice President of Operations and a Regional Director of Operations.
Jane Diange, 48, joined Olive Garden in 1996 as Director of Employment. She held various human resources, staffing and leadership development positions before being promoted to her current role as Senior Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining Olive Garden, she worked for Host Marriott Services for nine years in various human resources positions.
Phil Robinson joined Red Lobster in 1976 as an Associate Manager. Throughout his 28-year career, he has held increasingly responsible positions in operations and human resources.
"We have a tremendous opportunity at Red Lobster," said Lopdrup. "This is a great brand with a great team that is committed to providing an outstanding dining experience to every guest. We have made great progress recently at improving both guest satisfaction and operating efficiency. We have also strengthened our marketing discipline and hired a world-class marketing partner in The Richards Group. All of us at Red Lobster are focused on making further improvements in our operations, marketing and value position."
Darden Restaurants, Inc., headquartered in Orlando, FL, owns and operates over 1,300 Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones, and Seasons 52 restaurants with annual sales of over $4.7 billion.
Forward-looking statements in this news release, if any, are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Certain important factors could cause results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including the impact of changing economic or business conditions, the impact of competition, the availability of favorable credit and trade terms, the impact of changes in the cost or availability of food and real estate, government regulation, construction costs, weather conditions and other factors discussed from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.