McDonald’s on Monday announced that Mason Smoot is taking the role of U.S. chief restaurant officer, replacing Charlie Robeson. Robeson decided to retire after 44 years with the company.
Smoot was chief of staff for CEO Chris Kempczinski and will report to Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald’s U.S. business. Smoot will oversee franchising, restaurant development, and U.S. operations in the position.
Smoot’s previous titles include SVP of strategic alignment (a title he held along with chief of staff) and interim global chief people officer. He started with McDonald’s in 1994. With the change, McDonald’s also named Mark Ostermann Kempczinski’s new chief of staff.
