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Chris Kempczinski

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Chris Kempczinski is the President and CEO of McDonald's Corporation, one of the world's most recognisable consumer brands and among the largest advertising spenders globally. He took the helm in November 2019 following the departure of Steve Easterbrook, and has since steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant digital transformation, and the rollout of its 'Accelerating the Arches' growth strategy, which places marketing, core menu and digital/delivery/drive-through at its centre. Under Kempczinski's leadership, McDonald's has invested heavily in loyalty programmes — most notably the MyMcDonald's Rewards platform — and digital marketing capabilities, making the brand a significant force in data-driven consumer engagement. His tenure has been marked by a focus on brand consistency, value messaging and culturally resonant campaigns, including high-profile celebrity meal collaborations that generated substantial earned media. Before becoming CEO, Kempczinski served as President of McDonald's USA and prior to joining McDonald's held senior roles at Kraft Foods and PepsiCo. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Duke University.

Last updated Oct 24, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Role
Chief Executive
Company
McDonald's
Based
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Boards
2

AI-drafted from public sources1 source cited

Years in industry
15 years

Bio

Chris Kempczinski is the President and CEO of McDonald's Corporation, one of the world's most recognisable consumer brands and among the largest advertising spenders globally. He took the helm in November 2019 following the departure of Steve Easterbrook, and has since steered the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant digital transformation, and the rollout of its 'Accelerating the Arches' growth strategy, which places marketing, core menu and digital/delivery/drive-through at its centre. Under Kempczinski's leadership, McDonald's has invested heavily in loyalty programmes — most notably the MyMcDonald's Rewards platform — and digital marketing capabilities, making the brand a significant force in data-driven consumer engagement. His tenure has been marked by a focus on brand consistency, value messaging and culturally resonant campaigns, including high-profile celebrity meal collaborations that generated substantial earned media. Before becoming CEO, Kempczinski served as President of McDonald's USA and prior to joining McDonald's held senior roles at Kraft Foods and PepsiCo. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an undergraduate degree from Duke University.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Brand MarketingDigital Loyalty ProgrammesConsumer EngagementQuick Service Restaurant MarketingGlobal Advertising StrategyDigital TransformationCorporate StrategyFranchise Operations

Education

  • MBA, Harvard Business School
  • BA Economics, Duke University

Speaking topics

Brand building at global scaleDigital transformation in consumer businessesLoyalty and data-driven marketingLeadership and corporate cultureSustainability and corporate responsibility

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Led McDonald's 'Accelerating the Arches' strategy, driving sustained same-store sales growth globally
  • Oversaw launch of MyMcDonald's Rewards loyalty programme, rapidly scaling to tens of millions of members
  • Navigated McDonald's through the COVID-19 pandemic while maintaining brand strength and financial performance
  • Championed high-profile celebrity meal collaborations (e.g. Travis Scott, BTS) that became cultural marketing moments

Awards

Named to Fortune's list of most powerful people in business