Darden Restaurants CEO and leadership

Gene Lee was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. in February 2015 after serving as Interim CEO since October 2014. Gene brings more than 30 years of restaurant operating experience to the role, which ranges from early stage high-growth concepts to large high-volume chains.

Ricardo "Rick" Cardenas serves as Chief Financial Officer for Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) since 2016. Previously, Mr. Cardenas served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Darden Restaurants from 2015 to 2016, after having served as Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Technology from 2014 to 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Cardenas served as Executive Vice President of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse from 2013 to 2014 and Senior Vice President of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse’s Philadelphia Division from 2012 to 2013. Mr. Cardenas joined Darden Restaurants in 1984 and held a variety of other roles within the company prior to 2012, after briefly leaving to work for two management consulting firms in 1998. Mr. Cardenas brings to his role on the Board extensive financial experience, having responsibility for finance and accounting, corporate reporting, corporate tax, treasury and investor relations in his current role at Darden Restaurants. The Board will benefit from Mr. Cardenas’ substantial senior leadership and financial expertise as Tractor Supply continues to grow and drive long-term profitability.

Matt Broad is a Co-General Counsel at OFFICE DEPOT INC; SVP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary & Chief Compliance Officer at DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC; and Board Member at Boise Cascade and is based in Orlando, Florida. He has worked as Secretary at BOISE CASCADE OFFICE PRODUCTS CORP., Exec VP/General Counsel at Office Max, and Independent Director at Boise Cascade. Matthew attended University of California Hastings College of the Law between 1981 and 1984 and University of California Santa Barbara between 1977 and 1981.

Raj Vennam was named Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer in December 2020 after serving as Senior Vice President, Treasurer since July 2020. He leads all financial functions for the company including accounting, corporate finance, corporate reporting, corporate tax and treasury. In addition, Raj maintains oversight of Darden’s information technology, investor relations and business analytics functions.

Darden owns and operates more than 1,800 Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V’s restaurants in North America, employing more than 175,000 people and serving 360 million guests annually.

Raj began his career at Darden in 2003 as a Sr. Business Analyst for Market Development. He went on to work as a Sr. Financial Analyst in Investment Analysis, Olive Garden Marketing Analysis, and Treasury; and eventually as a Manager of Treasury prior to being promoted to Director of Financial Planning & Analysis for LongHorn in 2010. In 2013, Raj joined Red Lobster as a Sr. Director and progressed to Senior Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis and Treasury. He returned to Darden in 2016 as Senior Vice President, Finance & Analytics.

Prior to rejoining Darden, Raj worked at The Fresh Market where he served as Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis and Investor Relations.

Raj earned an MBA from the University of Central Florida. He graduated with a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Old Dominion University.

Richard Renninger is an Exec VP/Chief Development Ofcr at BLOOMIN' BRANDS, INC. and Chief Development Officer at DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC and is based in Florida. He has worked as Senior VP:Real Estate & Dev at Outback Steakhouse Of Florida, Member Of The Board Of Advisors at Fitlife Foods, and VP Construction at Waffle House. Richard attended Harvard University.

Gene Lee was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. in February 2015 after serving as Interim CEO since October 2014. Gene brings more than 30 years of restaurant operating experience to the role, which ranges from early stage high-growth concepts to large high-volume chains.

Ricardo "Rick" Cardenas serves as Chief Financial Officer for Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) since 2016. Previously, Mr. Cardenas served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Darden Restaurants from 2015 to 2016, after having served as Senior Vice President of Finance, Strategy and Technology from 2014 to 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Cardenas served as Executive Vice President of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse from 2013 to 2014 and Senior Vice President of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse’s Philadelphia Division from 2012 to 2013. Mr. Cardenas joined Darden Restaurants in 1984 and held a variety of other roles within the company prior to 2012, after briefly leaving to work for two management consulting firms in 1998. Mr. Cardenas brings to his role on the Board extensive financial experience, having responsibility for finance and accounting, corporate reporting, corporate tax, treasury and investor relations in his current role at Darden Restaurants. The Board will benefit from Mr. Cardenas’ substantial senior leadership and financial expertise as Tractor Supply continues to grow and drive long-term profitability.