Darden Restaurants Inc. named Todd Burrowes the president of LongHorn Steakhouse on Monday.
The announcement will mark a return to LongHorn for Burrowes, who spent more than 10 years in operations leadership roles at the steak chain before he left to become the chief operations officer at Ruby Tuesday two years ago.
Burrowes will report to Darden CEO Gene Lee. “We are excited to welcome Todd back to LongHorn Steakhouse,” Lee said. “Todd is an energetic and passionate leader who truly understands our culture and how to inspire and motivate our team members. His operational expertise coupled with his deep knowledge of the brand makes him the ideal person to lead the LongHorn team.”
Ruby Tuesday, meanwhile, named Brett Patterson the concept president and chief operations officer following Burrowes’ resignation.
“I am so pleased that Brett will assume the role of Ruby Tuesday Concept President,” JJ Buettgen, chairman and CEO at Ruby Tuesday — and himself a Darden veteran — said in a statement. “Brett has been an invaluable member of our leadership team since joining the company two years ago. He is a strong operator and has a solid track record of leading and developing teams, enhancing efficiencies, streamlining processes and improving business results.”
The moves continue the trading of executives between the two casual dining chains dating back to at least 2012, when Buettgen, former CMO at Darden, left to take the helm at Ruby Tuesday.
Darden apparently lured back Burrowes to be the concept president at LongHorn amid an overhaul of the executive staff at Darden, following an overhaul of the company’s board last year and the elevation of Gene Lee to CEO. The company recently named Jeffrey Davis the company’s chief financial officer.
Burrows replaces Valerie Insignares, who left the company to “pursue other interests,” according to a company spokesman..
Burrowes has more than 25 years of industry experience, and during his previous stint at LongHorn he had been executive vice president of operations, senior vice president of operations and regional director of operations. Before LongHorn, he worked with Corner Bakery Café and Saltgrass Steak House.
LongHorn generated more than $1.5 billion in sales during the chain’s most recent fiscal year. The company has 470 restaurants across 40 states.
“I want to thank Todd for his contributions to Ruby Tuesday over the last two years and wish him the best in the future,” Buettgen said of Burrowes.
Patterson, meanwhile, has more than 25 years of industry experience, and first joined Ruby Tuesday as vice president of operations in 2013 before he was promoted to senior vice president of operations in 2014. Patterson is another Darden veteran, having worked with the Orlando-based operator in various capacities since 1997.
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction:
Correction: July 27, 2015 An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of LongHorn Steakhouse's new president.
Contact Jonathan Maze at [email protected].
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