Who was the CEO of McDonald's from 2015 to 2019?

Steve Easterbrook was the CEO of McDonald’s from 2015 to 2019.

The British business executive became McDonald’s president and CEO on March 1, 2015, succeeding Don Thompson. Before reaching the top job, Easterbrook had led McDonald’s operations in the United Kingdom and northern Europe and had served as the company’s chief brand officer.

He briefly left McDonald’s in 2011 to lead PizzaExpress and later Wagamama, then returned in 2013. As CEO, he pursued changes intended to modernize the chain and improve its performance, including a stronger emphasis on franchising and restaurant-level growth.

McDonald’s removed Easterbrook in November 2019 after determining that he had violated company policy by engaging in a relationship with an employee. Chris Kempczinski, then McDonald’s USA president, succeeded him. Ray Kroc founded the modern McDonald’s system, and Don Thompson was Easterbrook’s immediate predecessor.