Fast-food giant McDonald’s has named Jill McDonald as its first chief restaurant experience officer as part of a reshuffle in its executive team.
Currently leading McDonald’s international division, comprising Europe, Canada and Australia, Jill McDonald will oversee operations, supply chain, franchising, development, design, delivery and the company’s innovation lab.
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Her team will include executives managing McDonald’s global beef, chicken and beverage businesses.
The burger giant is revamping its operations and development teams to expedite the introduction of new menu items and technology.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski was quoted by the Wall Street Journal: “Recent efforts to develop new sandwiches, including a years-long process to upgrade McDonald’s signature burgers, have taken too long. [This is] just going to allow us to be faster.”
The company is striving to regain momentum amid challenging conditions for fast-food chains, with consumers viewing fast food as increasingly expensive and broader economic anxieties impacting restaurant traffic.
Global same-store sales for McDonald’s remained stable in 2024 following years of growth. Overall US restaurant traffic dropped 2.8% and is expected to decline further, according to market research company Black Box Intelligence.
Kempczinski has led the world’s biggest fast-food chain by sales since 2019. Recent developments highlighting the need for greater agility in the brand’s strategy.
He emphasises faster deployment of new products and technology and improved coordination with restaurants.
On 1 January 2025, McDonald’s renewed its master franchise agreement in a 20-year deal with Arcos Dorados, its largest independent franchisee in Latin America and the Caribbean.
