McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook is Out After Relationship with Employee

Many were probably shocked to learn this week that McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook has resigned from the company after news of a relationship with an employee surfaced.

The company’s board voted to remove CEO Steve Easterbrook over the weekend and cited “poor judgment involving a recent consensual relationship with an employee.”

Chris Kempczinski, the current president of McDonald’s USA, will be taking Easterbrook’s place.

“Kempczinski succeeds Steve Easterbrook, who has separated from the Company following the Board’s determination that he violated company policy and demonstrated poor judgment involving a recent consensual relationship with an employee,” said McDonald’s.

According to the Financial Times, Easterbrook, who is divorced, wrote in an email to employees that the consensual relationship “was a mistake.”

He added, “Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on. Beyond this, I hope you can respect my desire to maintain my privacy.”

Easterbrook had served as CEO since March 2015.

According to Enrique Hernandez Jr., chairman of McDonald’s board of directors, Kempczinski is “the best leader to set the vision and drive the plans for the Company’s continued success.”

“He has the right mix of skills and experience to lead us forward having run our U.S. business, where franchisees are delivering strong financial and operational results, and overseen global strategy, business development and innovation,” Hernandez said. “In particular, Chris was instrumental in the development of the Company’s strategic plan, which has enabled global growth and leadership, and has overseen the most comprehensive transformation of the U.S. business in McDonald’s history.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in Mcdonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) and have not been compensated for this article.