He’s lovin’ it: McDonald’s appoint a Brit as their new chief executive

A Briton has been named as the new chief executive of McDonald’s, as the fast food chain tackles disappointing sales worldwide. Steve Easterbrook (pictured above) will become the new president and CEO of the company in March. His predecessor, Don Thompson, had only held the position for two-and-a-half years. Net income at McDonald’s plummeted by 21% in the fourth quarter to £726m, as customers shopped around for healthier, cheaper and more customisable alternatives. Easterbrook, 46, was CEO of McDonald’s UK from 2006-2010 and has been with the company 22 years.

It’s tough to say goodbye to the McFamily, but there is a time and season for everything. I am truly confident as I pass the reins over to Steve that he will continue to move our business and brand forward.

Outgoing McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson

Last week, McDonald’s announced drastic changes to its menu - with plans to offer custom-made Big Macs and allow diners to place orders on their mobile phones. McDonald’s is still smarting from a food safety scare in China, where it faced allegations of using contaminated beef and chicken in its products. The chain is expecting weak sales for the first half of 2015, and also plans to open fewer restaurants in regions with the poorest growth. The McDonald’s Corporation is the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 68 million customers daily in 119 countries across 35,000 outlets.

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