Oak Brook, Ill., USA - January 12, 2010, Oak Brook, Ill., USA - McDonald's Corporation announced that Don Thompson, currently President of McDonald USA, has been elected to the role of president and chief operating officer, effective immediately.
Article continues below
At the same time, the company announced the promotions of Jan Fields, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for McDonald's USA, to succeed Mr. Thompson as President of McDonald's USA, and Jim Johannesen, currently U.S. Division President-Central Division, to succeed Ms. Fields as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for McDonald's USA.
Mr. Thompson began his McDonald's career in 1990 as an engineer in the Restaurant Systems Group.
Mr. Thompson moved into restaurant operations four years later, and rose quickly through the operations ranks.
Mr. Thompson was named Regional Manager of the San Diego Region in 1998, and was promoted to Regional Vice President a year later.
In 2000 Mr. Thompson was named President of the Midwest Division of McDonald's USA, and in 2001 was appointed President of the company's West Division.
In 2004, Mr. Thompson returned to Oak Brook as Executive Vice President of McDonald's Restaurant Systems Group.
A year later he was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for McDonald's USA, and in 2006 was named President of McDonald's USA.
Ms. Fields began her McDonald's career as a crew person for a McDonald's owner-operator, and joined McDonald's Corporation in 1978 as a Restaurant Manager Trainee.
Ms. Fields moved through McDonald's operations career path as an Area Supervisor, Field Consultant, Operations Manager, and Director of Operations. In 1994, Ms. Fields was promoted to Regional Manager of the Pittsburgh Region.
In 2000, Ms. Fields was promoted to U.S. Senior Vice President and Central Division Support Officer.
Three years later, she was named U.S. Division President for the Central Division, and in 2006 she was named to her current role as Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, McDonald's USA.
Mr. Johannesen joined McDonald's in 1979 as an attorney in the Corporate Legal Department.
In 1986, Mr. Johannesen was named Director for McDonald's Business Affairs group, and in 1992 he became an Assistant Vice President within the U.S. Restaurant Development Department.
In 1998, Mr. Johannesen moved into restaurant operations as Regional Vice President of the Phoenix Region.
Three years later he was named Vice President and General Manager of the Chicago Region. In 2002 Mr. Johannesen was promoted to U.S. Senior Vice President and Chief Support Officer for McDonald's USA. ■