OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Jim Skinner, CEO of McDonald's Corp., Oak Brook, Ill., said Mike Roberts, president and COO of McDonald's, has decided to resign. Skinner also announced that effective immediately, Ralph Alvarez, president of McDonald's North America, will succeed Roberts as president and COO of McDonald's Corp., and that Don Thompson, executive vice president and COO of McDonald's USA, has been named president of McDonald's USA.
Ralph Alvarez, 51, takes over after 12 years with the system. Most recently, he has led the continued momentum of McDonald's [image-nocss] U.S. business, which has produced 40 consecutive months of positive same-store sales.
In naming Alvarez to his new position, Skinner said, I have tremendous confidence in Ralph's ability and look forward to working closely with him as we continue to evolve the business through our unwavering focus on our Plan to Win. Ralph has an exemplary track record in both our domestic and international businesses. He is a tremendous leader and team player.
Alvarez began his career with McDonald's in 1994 after a distinguished career in the quick service restaurant industry. Prior to his current position, where he is responsible for 15,000 restaurants in the United States and Canada, Alvarez served as president of McDonald's USA. Prior to this, he was COO of McDonald's USA, and before that, president of the Central Division for McDonald's USA. Alvarez also served as president of McDonald's Mexico, and as regional director for Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Don Thompson, 43, began his career with McDonald's in 1990 as a restaurant systems engineer. In his role as executive vice president and COO for McDonald's USA, he was responsible for restaurant operations in the United States, with more than 13,800 restaurants in three divisions, along with the restaurant systems, U.S. support and strategy and planning functions.
Previously, Thompson served as executive vice president and innovation orchestration leader for McDonald's Restaurant Solutions Group. In this capacity, he and his team were responsible for McDonald's innovation pipeline. Prior to this position, he served as president of the West Division of McDonald's USA, where he was responsible for the six geographic regions in the western United States, covering 16 states.
Also, Janice Fields, president of the Central Division of McDonald's USA, has been named executive vice president and COO of McDonald's USA, and James Johannesen, senior vice president and chief support officer of McDonald's USA has been named president of the Central Division of McDonald's USA.
Fields, 51, is an executive with 28 years of McDonald's experience, beginning her career with the company as a restaurant crew member.
Since joining the company, Fields has worked in all facets of McDonald's restaurant business. In 1994, she was appointed regional vice president of the Pittsburgh Region. In her most recent she was responsible for more than 4,000 McDonald's restaurants located in seven geographic regions in the central United States, covering 24 states.
Most recently, Johannesen was responsible for real estate and construction, franchising, franchise relations, ombudsman, diversity initiatives, and U.S. communications functions. He has been in this position since 2002. In 1997, he entered the McDonald's executive training program in preparation for his role as regional vice president in Phoenix. In 2001, he moved to Chicago to serve as the general manager for the Chicago Region.
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