McDonald's Creates Global Brand Role

Fast food giant McDonald's has promoted UK President and CEO Steve Easterbrook to the newly-created position of Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer, responsible for marketing, menu innovation, consumer insights and other global brand assets.

Easterbrook is a 16-year McDonald's veteran with experience in finance, operations and supply chain. He became President and CEO of McDonald's UK in 2006, and added President of Europe's Northern Division to his job title in 2007, when he took on responsibility for Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Ireland.

In this time as CEO, Easterbrook led a major effort to remodel and modernize McDonald's restaurants, revitalize the menu with more choice and variety, and increase investment in staff training to improve customer service and encourage personal development. He also spearheaded work around employment image.

In his new role which commences in September, he will report to COO Don Thompson, and will be based at the firm's US headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois.

'We're confident that Steve is the right person to step up and help keep our brand relevant and contemporary around the world,' said CEO Jim Skinner. 'This new position is a natural evolution of our commitment to our customers and our pledge to be better, not just bigger.'

Easterbrook is succeeded by the aptly named Jill McDonald, who is currently Chief Marketing Officer for Northern Europe. Prior to joining the company in 2006, she held senior marketing roles at Colgate Palmolive and British Airways.

Web site: www.mcdonalds.com .