Advance Auto adds director

Published November 20, 2015 by Jessica Sabbath

Advance Auto Parts Inc. announced Friday that the president and CEO of the restaurant group that owns Olive Garden and Longhorn Steakhouse has joined its board of directors.

Advance Auto, an automotive parts retailer headquartered in Roanoke, said Eugene “Gene” I. Lee Jr. has joined its board of directors as of Friday. Lee also is on the board of directors of Darden, whose other restaurants include Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and Yard House.

Lee joined Darden when it acquired RARE Hospitality International Inc., where he had been president and a member of its board of directors since 2001. Following Darden’s acquisition of RARE in 2007, Lee held a variety of executive roles until he was appointed to his president and CEO in February of this year.