McDonald's Names Kevin Newell as Global Chief Brand Officer

OAK BROOK, Ill., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's Corporation announced today that Kevin Newell, currently U.S. Senior Vice President and Restaurant Support Officer for McDonald's USA West Division, has been named McDonald's Executive Vice President and Global Chief Brand Officer, effective Feb. 1, 2011.

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The Global Chief Brand Officer position, most recently held by McDonald's Europe President Steve Easterbrook, oversees Marketing, Menu Innovation, Consumer Insights and other global brand assets at McDonald's. Newell also will provide strategic input on Corporate Social Responsibility and Restaurant Architecture.  

"I'm honored to be given this opportunity to leverage all of our tremendous assets and resources to build an even stronger bond with our customers," said Newell. "I'm looking forward to working collaboratively across our system to deliver a customer experience that helps differentiate our brand even further."

Newell, 53, will report to President and Chief Operating Officer Don Thompson.

"Kevin brings a winning combination of talent and knowledge to his new role," said Thompson. "He has a solid background in marketing, brand building and operations which McDonald's has benefitted from for more than 20 years. He understands how to connect with our customers in compelling and relevant ways."

"Kevin's energetic, hands-on leadership style and his collaborative work throughout our organization make him the right choice for this position," said McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner. "We're confident he'll hit the ground running as we work to elevate brand McDonald's."

Following a career with Burrell Advertising and Leo Burnett, USA, where he supported brands such as Keebler and Green Giant, Newell joined McDonald's in 1989 as a Field Media Manager in the International Marketing department. Over the next decade, he held several roles of increasing responsibility in regional marketing positions with McDonald's, and in 2001 was promoted to Marketing Division Officer for the Central Division in the U.S.

Newell joined Black Entertainment Television Company as Vice President and General Sales Manager of the Midwest Region in 2004, where he led sales, sales support and research. In 2005 he returned to McDonald's, and in 2006 was promoted to U.S. Vice President and General Manager of the Great Southern Region. Most recently, Newell served as U.S. Senior Vice President and Restaurant Support Officer for the West Division of the U.S. and was responsible for operations, talent management and diversity planning, as well as supporting the business strategies of more than 4,000 restaurants.

McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 32,000 locations serving more than 62 million customers in 117 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local men and women. To learn more about the company, please visit www.aboutmcdonalds.com and follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/mcdonaldscorp) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/mcdonaldscorp)

SOURCE McDonald's Corporation