SHARE:
Central Florida Players - August 2011
» Darden Restaurants, the only Fortune 500 company based in Orlando, shuffled the top ranks of Red Lobster and Olive Garden, its largest restaurant chains.
 Kim Lopdrup |
 John Caron |
 Dave Pickens |
 J.J. Buettgen |
After seven years as president of Red Lobster, Kim Lopdrup was named senior vice president of business development to oversee Darden's growth plans. Dave Pickens, who was president of Olive Garden, became president of Red Lobster. John Caron, Darden's senior vice president and chief marketing officer, was promoted to president of Olive Garden, where he previously was executive vice president of marketing. And J.J. Buettgen, Darden's senior vice president of business development, was named senior vice president and chief marketing officer.
» Melbourne-based Harris Corp. promoted Jim Traficant to president of Harris Healthcare Solutions, from vice president of the group.
» The Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission trimmed its staff by about 20% in May. Longtime COO Mike Bobroff's position was eliminated, and six other officers and directors were laid off.
