What was McDonald's first international corporate logo to use the Golden Arches as an M?

The 1962 Golden Arches logo was McDonald's first corporate logo to use the arches as an M.

Jim Schindler designed the logo by combining the two architectural arches into a single stylized letter. The design transformed a feature of McDonald's buildings into a portable corporate mark that could appear on signs, packaging, uniforms, and advertising.

The logo evolved from earlier visual identities, including the Speedee character and restaurant-specific architectural designs. Its power came from simplifying the arches into a shape that could be recognized even when little or no text was visible.

The 1962 design is often described as the origin of the modern Golden Arches symbol, although later versions adjusted the wordmark, colors, and graphic treatment. The architectural arches themselves were older than the logo.