Top > Business > 2006 > August > 2006-08-27

McDonald`s Leadership in Transition

The President and Chief Operating Officer of McDonald`s Corp., Mike Roberts, has resigned from his job. McDonald`s CEO Jim Skinner did not give a reason for the resignation of the company`s second-highest ranking executive, but said that Roberts will be replaced by Ralph Alvarez, who is President of McDonald`s USA. Roberts worked for McDonald`s for 29 years.

Don Thompson, who is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of McDonald`s USA, will in turn take over Alvarez`s job. Mike Roberts was considered a top candidate to succeed Skinner when he retired sometime in the near future. He was named president of McDonald`s in November 2004, when Skinner was promoted to CEO. Roberts, he said "As I think back over the years, I`m fortunate to have been part of so many defining moments - most recently our renaissance, which began in the U.S. in 2002 and is now occurring all around the world."

McDonald`s has steadily increased its sales since the promotions of Skinner and Roberts, but overall growth seemed to be in decline. CEO Skinner, in a statement, said "We all owe Mike a tremendous debt of gratitude. Because of his leadership, our system is stronger and more aligned than ever."