Mr. Cardenas was named President and Chief Executive Officer and elected to the Board of Directors effective May 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Cardenas served as our President and Chief Operating Officer from January 2021 to May 2022 and Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer from March 2016 to January 2021. He was Senior Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer of the Company from September 2015 to March 2016, prior to which he served as Senior Vice President, Finance, Strategy and Technology from 2014 to 2015. He was 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. He served as Senior Vice President of Finance for Red Lobster, which the Company previously owned, from 2010 to 2012. Mr. Cardenas originally joined the Company in 1984 as an hourly employee and served in various positions of increasing responsibility, including Vice President of Finance for Olive Garden, prior to the positions described above. Current Public Directorships: Tractor Supply Company, an operator of retail farm and ranch stores, since 2019 Prior Public Board Service Within the Past Five Years: None Qualifications: The Nominating and Governance Committee concluded that Mr. Cardenas is qualified and should serve, in part, because of his extensive senior management and leadership experience with our Company. Age 57 Tenure 3.5 President and Chief Executive Officer Director since 2022 Darden Committees: None