Casual Dining Leader Looks to McAdam for Community and Coalition Building
ORLANDO, Fla., Dec 07, 2006 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ -- Casual dining's sales and market share leader said Thursday that Bob McAdam, 49, a veteran of the political arena, grass roots organizing and community building will join Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI) as senior vice president of Government and Community Affairs before year's end.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050203/FLTH026LOGO )
McAdam joins the company that owns and operates the Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze, Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill and Seasons 52 restaurant companies from Wal-Mart Stores Inc., where he served most recently as vice president of Corporate Affairs.
During his years at the world's largest retailer he led both state and local Government Relations and Communications. In these roles McAdam also helped craft an effective Community Relations program that has enhanced Wal- Mart's relationships with local communities and organizations across North America.
"Strong government and community relations are important to Darden's efforts to grow our existing businesses and build powerful new brands," said Darden Chairman and CEO Clarence Otis. "So, Bob will have an important role in helping us realize our full growth potential."
McAdam, who joins Darden effective December 18, 2006, will be a member of Darden's Executive Team reporting directly to Mr. Otis and will help:
- Represent Darden in the public policy arena;
- Ensure the company meets community needs with a strong national
community strategy and program;
- Find science-based solutions to support the company's environmental
leadership; and
- Deliver communications that build, protect and support the reputations
of Darden's brands and help it maintain an engaged workforce.
Before joining Wal-Mart, McAdam was a senior vice president at St. Louis- based Fleishman-Hillard. At this public relations company he applied his broad background with elections to provide strategic planning and creative issue advertising for agency clients. McAdam also gained public policy experience working for the Tobacco Institute and on the staff of the U.S. House of Representatives. McAdam holds a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, San Diego.
"Bob has spent more than 25 years in the political public policy arena," Otis said. "He is respected for his knowledge of grass roots organizing and as a legislative issues manager. He is a passionate business advocate and, most importantly, he has a heart for the communities in which Darden does business."
Orlando-based Darden owns and operates over 1,400 restaurants across North America with annual sales in fiscal 2006 of $5.7 billion.
SOURCE Darden Restaurants Inc.
Jim DeSimone of Darden Restaurants Inc., +1-407-245-4567
http://www.darden.com/
Copyright (C) 2006 PR Newswire. All rights reserved
News Provided by COMTEX