• March 26, 2010

Darden Restaurants, Inc. has promoted John Caron, previously EVP marketing for Olive Garden, to the newly created position of chief marketing officer at the Darden corporate level.

Caron will report directly to Darden's COO and drive development and implementation of an integrated brand strategy across all six Darden chains: Red Lobster, Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52.

Caron will "serve as a strategic partner working across all brands to standardize best practices and capitalize on innovative brand-building opportunities" and will also oversee consumer insights and talent management within the marketing organization, according to Darden.

Darden, headquartered in Orlando, Fla., operates 1,800 restaurant units that generate more than $7 billion in annual sales and employs approximately 180,000 people.--Karlene Lukovitz