ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) today announced the appointment of Matt Broad as its Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, effective tomorrow, October 13, 2015. In this role, Broad assumes responsibility for all legal affairs, including corporate governance, labor and employment law, development law, litigation and regulatory compliance. He will report to Darden CEO Gene Lee.

Most recently, Broad served as a consultant with Axiom, a provider of tech-enabled legal services. There he provided legal counsel to companies across various industries including food & beverage, manufacturing, and healthcare. Prior to that, Broad served as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for OfficeMax, responsible for legal affairs, corporate compliance and public policy. Before joining OfficeMax in 2004, Broad was Associate General Counsel with Boise Cascade, a publicly traded manufacturer and distributor of forest products and distributor of office supplies.

"Matt is an analytical business leader with an impressive breadth of experience," said Gene Lee. "We're excited to have him join us as a member of the executive leadership team, as his deep understanding of corporate law will help shape the future growth of Darden."

Broad fills the position that has been open since the Company's previous General Counsel departed earlier this year.

About Darden
Darden Restaurants, Inc., (NYSE: DRI) owns and operates more than 1,500 restaurants that generate $6.8 billion in annual sales. Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, and employing 150,000 people, Darden is recognized for a culture that rewards caring for and responding to people. Our restaurant brands -Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V's and Yard House - reflect the rich diversity of those who dine with us. Our brands are built on deep insights into what our guests want. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

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SOURCE Darden Restaurants, Inc.: General