McDonald’s has announced a series of leadership changes across its U.S. and global structure, reinforcing its focus on operational alignment, franchising strength, and long-term growth.
The updates, shared by senior leadership including U.S. President Joe Erlinger, CFO Ian Borden, and Global Chief Restaurant Experience Officer Jill McDonald, are designed to ensure the company has the right leadership in place to drive execution and transformation across the system.
At the centre of the reshuffle is the appointment of Skye Anderson as Chief Operating Officer of the U.S. business, a newly created role aimed at integrating operations more closely.
Anderson, a more than 26-year veteran of McDonald’s, most recently served as President of the company’s Global Business Services (GBS) organisation. In that role, she led efforts to modernise internal operations, including overseeing shared services, finance transformation, HR operations, and digital engagement.
She also played a key role in expanding GBS globally, including the launch of major hubs in Hyderabad and Mexico City.
As COO, Anderson will oversee U.S. national operations, restaurant development, company-owned locations, supply chain, and technology, bringing multiple functions under a single, integrated leadership structure.
Alongside Anderson’s appointment, Mason Smoot has been named Senior Vice President of Global Franchising and Delivery.
A 30-year veteran of the company, Smoot most recently served as Chief Restaurant Officer for the U.S. system. During his tenure, McDonald’s expanded its delivery business, strengthened franchisee partnerships, and improved operational metrics, including achieving record-high customer satisfaction scores.
In his new role, Smoot will oversee global franchising standards and systemwide franchisee engagement, with a focus on ensuring consistency across markets.
The leadership changes extend beyond the U.S. market.
Mattijs Backx has been promoted to Chief Transformation & Services Officer, joining the global senior leadership team. He will lead the GBS organisation, focusing on simplifying operations and strengthening service delivery across markets.
Backx brings more than 25 years of experience across global companies, including PepsiCo, Lufthansa, and Office Depot, adding further operational depth to McDonald’s leadership bench.
The latest changes come amid a series of leadership moves at McDonald’s, reflecting an ongoing effort to align its structure with its growth ambitions.
Recent appointments include the elevation of Tabassum Zalotrawala to Senior Vice President of Global Restaurant Development and Design, following a period of accelerated expansion in the U.S. market.
The company is targeting significant unit growth in the coming years, including plans to open thousands of new restaurants globally, as part of its broader expansion strategy.
The leadership reshuffle reflects a clear operational priority: tighter integration across functions and markets.
The changes are also aligned with the company’s ongoing transformation efforts, which emphasise speed, agility, and digital capability as core drivers of performance.
