Restaurants
10 Darden Restaurants operations leaders
These ten current and former Darden Restaurants operations leaders have held vice president and more senior operations roles at Darden. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Darden Restaurants from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10Cherice Paniagua
LinkedInExperience: Houston Division Vice President of operations · Darden
Houston Division Vice President of operations at Darden since June 2024, a role the profile places in Operations at vice president level. Cherice Paniagua's profile also lists Director Of Operations roles at Darden starting in 2017 and 2018, and general manager and Manager roles there, none of them shown with an end date.
Dan Kiernan
LinkedInExperience: EVP of Operations, Olive Garden · Darden
EVP of Operations, Olive Garden at Darden, a current role the profile places in Operations at vice president level and lists as starting in 1992. The profile headline describes Dan Kiernan as President, Olive Garden at Darden Restaurants, and the listing shows no other employer.
Dave George
LinkedInExperience: Former Chief Operations Officer · Darden
Former Chief Operations Officer at Darden (2018–2020). Dave George also held President - Olive Garden (2013–2018) and President - LongHorn Steakhouse (2007–2013) roles at Darden, according to the profile, which lists a retired corporate executive role at Darden and a seat on the Bloomin' Brands board since 2024.
Douglas Green
LinkedInExperience: Former EVP Operations - Red Lobster · Darden
Former EVP Operations - Red Lobster at Darden (2007–2012), where the profile says the work included implementing wood-fire grilling and creating Seafood Expert training. Douglas Green also held SVP Operations, Red Lobster (2004–2007) and SVP Operations, Seasons 52 (2002–2003) at Darden, and the profile lists Restaurant Consultant at P & D Consulting, LLC (2012–2022).
Falon Farrell
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Operations · Darden
Senior Vice President Operations at Darden since August 2020, and President, The Capital Grille & Eddie V s at Darden since May 2024. Falon Farrell also held Vice President of Operations, Eddie V s (2018–2020) and Director of Operations, Eddie V's (2016–2018) at Darden, according to the profile.
Gary Brown
LinkedInExperience: Former Senior Vice President of Operations, LongHorn Steakhouse · Darden
Former Senior Vice President of Operations, LongHorn Steakhouse at Darden (2013–2021), where the profile says the work covered sales and profit targets with 10 direct reports. Gary Brown was also Senior Vice President of Operations, Olive Garden at Darden (2004–2013) and has been Division Vice President, US Operations at Krispy Kreme since 2021.
Jason Smith
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President Operations · Darden
Senior Vice President Operations at Darden since 2025, in Orlando, a role the profile says provides executive leadership for all LongHorn Steakhouse operations. Jason Smith also held Divisional Vice President Operations (2019–2025), Division Vice President (2019–2025) and Director of Operations (2014–2019) roles at Darden.
Michael Eggars
LinkedInExperience: Former Senior Vice President of Operations · Darden
Former Senior Vice President of Operations at Darden (2014–2026), a role the profile places in the North Atlantic Division. Michael Eggars also held Regional Vice President of Operations (2012–2014) and Senior Director of Operations (2004–2012) at Darden, and the profile now describes a retired restaurant executive.
Paul Vasquez
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Operations · Darden
Vice President, Operations at Darden, a current role in the Mid-West that the profile lists as starting in 1990. Paul Vasquez's profile says the role leads a team of 10 directors, 84 general managers and 285 restaurant managers across the Mid-West, and that the work has covered teams in the USA and Canada.
Robert Pesch
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President of Brand Operations · Darden
Senior Vice President of Brand Operations at Darden since June 2023, in Orlando; the profile headline ties the role to Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. Robert Pesch was also Vice President, Corporate Executive Chef at Darden (2017–2023) and Vice President of Culinary at Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen (2014–2023), according to the profile.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope, such as one brand, one division or company-wide operations, to the question you bring. Check whether their Darden role is current or past before asking how operations work there today.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you run operations across several restaurant brands that share a parent company but serve different guests?
- 02What does a division operations leader look at each week to judge how restaurants in the division are doing?
- 03How do you roll out a new kitchen or service standard across hundreds of full-service restaurants?
Reaching Darden Restaurants operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Darden Restaurants operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Darden, based on profile data retrieved on October 13, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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