As head of the Design Department for the Darden Corp., Mr. Taylor oversees the direction of Olive Garden, Red Lobster, LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52 and The Capital Grille. With more than 1800 restaurants between the six brands, Mr. Taylor is responsible for setting the design direction for new restaurant growth and the renovations of the existing portfolio.

Prior to taking on this challenge at Darden, Mr. Taylor was instrumental in establishing the design direction for companies such as The Ritz-Carlton Club, Walt Disney Imagineering and The Limited Brands. For over twenty-five years, he has been a part of design in the hospitality, retailing, entertainment and food & beverage industries. This involvement has broadened his outlook on design and the collaborative nature of their common elements.

Building on these learning, Mr. Taylor is leading the efforts to establish a number of green initiatives in the areas of energy efficiency, water management and waste management.