McDonald’s Corp. said Tuesday that Steve Easterbrook would resign as president of McDonald’s Europe, effective Sept. 30.
Doug Goare, the company’s current executive vice president of global supply chain, real estate development and franchising, will succeed Easterbrook, effective Oct. 1.
Easterbrook will join the privately owned Gondola Group as chief executive of international restaurant brand PizzaExpress. Gondola Group is a London-based multiconcept operator.
He has been head of McDonald’s 40-country European division since Dec. 1, 2010. Before that Easterbrook had served for less than half a year as chief global brand officer before being promoted to replace former European president Denis Hennequin.
Previously, Easterbrook had been chief executive of McDonald’s U.K. from 2006 to 2010. He joined McDonald’s in his native United Kingdom in 1993.
“It’s been a real privilege to lead McDonald’s in Europe and in the U.K. prior to that,” Easterbrook said. “In this time we have made many changes to our business that are clearly appreciated by our customers and staff. I leave knowing that this work will continue, and I wish my colleagues every success.”
As the new president of McDonald’s Europe, Goare will oversee operations of more than 7,000 restaurants. The 33-year veteran of the brand will relocate to McDonald’s Europe’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and will report to Don Thompson, the company’s president and chief operating officer.
“Doug has led our strategic efforts for both global supply chain and restaurant development in Europe and around the world,” Thompson said. “I’m confident that his strong management and operations experience, his deep working knowledge of our business, and his subject matter expertise will bolster his leadership of McDonald’s Europe.”
Jose Armario, current group president of McDonald’s Canada and Latin America, will take over Goare’s current role overseeing supply chain, real estate and franchising. He will be responsible for a $23 billion procurement strategy. He also will oversee McDonald’s efforts to develop new sites worldwide, as well as all international franchising.
McDonald’s operates or franchises more than 33,000 restaurants worldwide, including more than 14,000 locations in the United States.
Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
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