Olive Garden parent Darden shakes up management

[January 09, 2013]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Darden Restaurants Inc. is replacing the president of its flagship Olive Garden chain after a new marketing campaign failed to reverse slumping sales.

Dave George, who most recently headed Darden's LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants, will be the new president of Olive Garden effective next Monday. He takes over for John Caron. Darden says Caron is leaving the company after 10 years.

Darden, based in Orlando, Fla., also named Will Setliff as its new chief operating officer. Setliff was previously vice president of marketing for the company's specialty restaurant group. The previous chief marketing officer, J.J. Buettgen, left in November to become CEO of rival casual dining chain Ruby Tuesday.

The management shakeup comes after Darden a key revenue figure fell in the latest quarter.

[Associated Press]

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