McDonald’s U.S. names new president
By Canadian Packaging staff
General McDonaldsMike Andres to step down on January 1, 2017.
With current McDonald’s U.S. president Mike Andres, 58, stepping down to retire on January 1, 2017, the company has named Chris Kempczinski—currently the executive vice-president of strategy, business development and innovation—to replace him.
Andre has been a McDonald’s employee for over 30 years, becoming the president of the U.S. operations in 2004. He has been involved in McDonald’s offering the all-day breakfast and switching from butter to margarine on the Egg McMuffins, removal of artificial preservatives from Chicken McNuggets and other items, removed antibiotics from its chicken—nearly a year ahead of schedule, and even reduced the number of fries in its Happy Meals (less fats for kids)—huge brand changes for the company.
Kempczinski joined McDonald’s in 2015 serving as executive vice-president after working most recently as executive vice-president of growth initiatives, and president of international at Kraft Foods Group.
On August 2, 2016, U.S. chief administrative officer Pete Bensen announced his retirement after close to 20 years with McDonald’s.
At the same time as the Kempczinski announcement, McDonald’s also announced that Doug Goare, president of international lead markets would also take on the role of chief restaurant officer, adding responsibilities managed by the leaving Pete Bensen.
Lucy Brady—currently with Boston Consulting Group—will join McDonald’s U.S. shortly to take over the duties and job Kempczinski had, as he begins to learn his new duties from the outgoing Andres.
Some analysts point to these critical moves as a sign the company is continuing to overhaul itself, as the company has seen its revenues drop recently—due to consumers wanting to eat healthier and the fact they are simply not eating out as often.
For McDonald’s to have named Kempczinski its new U.S. company president after only a year with the company is telling for an enterprise that traditionally promotes from within its own organization.
Earlier this summer, McDonald’s announced it would be vacating its old Oak Brook headquarters home for four decades in Illinois, for a new headquarters in the West Town district of Chicago, on the site of Oprah Winfrey’s former Harpo Studios.
The new headquarters call for a 608,000 square foot, two-building complex standing nine stories tall and estimated to cost US$250 million to construct, with completion anticipated for Spring of 2018.
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