What was the name of McDonald’s first corporate mascot after Speedee was retired?

Ronald McDonald was McDonald’s first major corporate mascot after Speedee was retired from the brand’s central identity.

McDonald’s introduced Ronald in 1963 as a clown character designed to appeal especially to children and families. His costume incorporated recognizable McDonald’s imagery, and advertising soon placed him in a broader fictional cast of restaurant-related characters.

Ronald helped shift McDonald’s branding from a message focused mainly on speed and operating efficiency toward an imaginative, family-centered identity. He became one of the most recognizable fast-food mascots in the world.

Speedee should not be confused with Ronald. Speedee belonged to the original 1948 service-system branding and appeared as an early chef character. Ronald emerged in the television-advertising era and eventually became the company’s best-known mascot.