McDonald’s Corporation has announced that Jeff Stratton, currently executive vice president and global chief restaurant officer, will succeed Jan Fields as president of McDonald’s USA, effective December 1. Fields will be leaving after more than 35 years with the company.
Stratton oversees the function of nearly 34,000 McDonald’s restaurants globally, focusing in areas such as innovation, concept and design, operations, training, performance, and security. Stratton will report to McDonald’s chief operating officer Tim Fenton. Stratton’s career at McDonald’s spans more than 40 years, beginning with his start as a crew member in Detroit. He held numerous U.S. field operations positions before becoming west division president in 2001. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to chief restaurant officer for McDonald’s USA, a role he held until joining the global team in 2005.
Fields drove major business initiatives in McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restaurants, such as expanding the McCafe beverage menu, modernizing restaurants, and recruiting 60,000 new McDonald’s workers on “national hiring day.” She also made significant nutrition advancements by revamping the Happy Meal last year to include apple slices and smaller, kid-sized french fries, and in September, by voluntarily posting nutrition information on menu boards.
