OAK BROOK, Ill. -- McDonald's USA has announced that Edgardo A. Navarro Linares has been promoted to vice president of multicultural marketing at McDonald's USA LLC. In this role, Navarro will be responsible for McDonald's U.S. strategic and ethnic consumer marketing efforts. Reporting to McDonald's U.S. Chief Marketing Officer Neil Golden, Navarro will assume his new role effective January 4, 2011.
"Multicultural marketing at McDonald's is more than segmented ethnic advertising campaigns; it's a business imperative and an integral element in our business strategy and marketing [image-nocss] plans," said Golden. "With Edgardo's leadership, we will continue to align and allocate resources in support of the most significant growth areas of our business and ensure that an ethnic consumer perspective is understood and applied at all points throughout the marketing process."
Navarro said, "With the growing influence of ethnic consumers on mainstream trends including music, food, sports, fashion and lifestyle, I am delighted to take on this new role and build upon McDonald's success as a brand that customers know and trust. Our multicultural marketing efforts are critical in helping us to expand and build brand relevance in the U.S. with our diverse customer base."
An 18-year McDonald's veteran with a strong business and financial acumen, Navarro has a proven track record for success.
Most recently, Navarro served as the vice president and general manager of Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald's Indianapolis region, which encompasses a total of 598 restaurants in Indiana, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.
Among his most notable accomplishments was the development of a comprehensive business and marketing plan for the launch of McDonald's McCafe beverages.
He has held a variety of leadership positions at McDonald's in the United States and Central America. Prior to his role as general manager in Indianapolis, Navarro served as vice president of the company's Houston region's operations team.
As the former president of McDonald's Central America, purchasing director for McDonald's Puerto Rico, international purchasing in home office and senior financial manager for the Asia-Pacific Division, Navarro has developed and executed business and financial plans that have successfully impacted the McDonald's business since 1993. Navarro is the former president and founder of RMHC Panama. He also organized RMHC Chapters for El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica and served as the Houston region's Hispanic lead for Inclusion & Diversity Networks. He is currently chairs the National Hispanic Employee Business Network (NHEBN).
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.