GENE LEE
PRESIDENT & CEO, DARDEN RESTAURANTS, ORLANDO
Darden’s portfolio includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s. The company employs more than 185,000 in more than 1,800 restaurants across North America. Lee, whose first job was as a busser at York Steakhouse at 16, has been with Darden for 12 years, the last five as president and CEO. He has never had a job outside the restaurant industry.
| EDUCATION | Suffolk University (MBA) |
| ALTERNATE CAREER? | Coaching |
| PHILANTHROPIC PASSION | Feeding America, which received a $2-million grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation this year. In addition, through our Harvest program, every one of our 1,800-plus restaurants donates unused food each week that is served to those in need. |
| STAYING FIT | Cycling |