Executive vice president, growth initiatives We could have done a better job, earlier in the pandemic, to learn from each other across our system. We think we can get even fasterand were also thinking about ways that the digital experience might work in drive-thru. Right now, Im reading Ten Lessons for a Post-Pandemic World, Fareed Zakarias book on what the world might look like when the pandemic is over. So when events happen that strike at the heart of our core values, we want to speak out on those occasions as well. CIO Fletcher Previn and his team compressed 10 years of strategy into 10 weeks of execution, reports Philip Delves Broughton. More than 1,000 McDonald's employees have responded via a survey. When you had a leader that acted in a way that was incongruous with those values, it raised a question: Are we as good as we say we are? Chris Kempczinski, McDonald's, speaks during a press conference in New York, November 17, 2016. Hopefully reeducating the executives on how to appropriately socialize with employees will be part of Kempczinskis agenda. Reminding people: Here are the values that have defined McDonalds over the years and, based on those values, heres why were going to make these decisions. Nothing about Mr. Kempczinski's ascent surprised Greg Kelly, a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company and a friend of Mr. Kempczinski's dating back to university. COVIDs a perfect example of that. I dont think we did enough to embrace how we are a part of culture, Mr. Amid all else thats going on, you recently launched a purpose to feed and foster communities? In this role, he worked closely with our business leaders and franchisees to identify innovative new ideas and best practices to accelerate system growth. When Ray Kroc structured McDonalds as a franchise business, the founding idea was to have a franchisee who lives in the community and who is going to be way better at managing the restaurant than some corporate stiff, thousands of miles away. Today, McDonalds looks like its on track for a rapid recovery and even, perhaps later this year, robust growth in some of its biggest markets. I have a rotation of lunch items. Kempczinskis predecessor, Steve Easterbrook had a reputation for partying with other employees and was ultimately fired in November for violating the companys rules that prohibit dating coworkers. In my experience, you piece together these lessons from different leaders and ultimately they define your own leadership style. Video. So says Chris Kempczinski, President and CEO of McDonald's Corporation, in this interview with Dr. Lori Esposito Murray, President of the Committee for Economic Development, the public policy center of The Conference Board (CED). But under his leadership, recoveryand growthare once again on the horizon. After a dramatic drop in sales in the early days of COVID-19, McDonalds in September reported its greatest same-store sales gain in nearly a decade in the US market. Sometimes, having the visibility of McDonalds can be a burden, can make for an easy target. What I found over time was that it was an incredibly generous organization. He has been with McDonald's Corporation since 2015 and is in his second year as president and CEO. In Kempczinski's message Monday, he said he was "impressed by the candid feedback.". In early November, Brunswick Partner Jayne Rosefield, head of the firms Chicago office and Global Consumer Industries Practice, interviewed Mr. Kempczinski. Customers are seeking brands that reflect their values and the line between the corporate brand and the consumer-facing brand is blurring. Our cash flow went down about $2 billion in 2020. CHICAGOMcDonald's Corp. Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski . A big learning for me was realizing that there is no such thing as overcommunicating. Finally, I went to Duke and Im a big Duke basketball fan. One of our values is that we open our doors to everyone. So I don't have all the answersBut I am going to outline for everybody some principles about how we're going to approach these issues.. Theres a rich trove of best practices out there to learn from. In this current environment, all companies are being asked to define their mission, their higher purpose. That sense of community is what makes our System so special. That's different from a captain's role, in which the route is often fixed and the destination defined." Zhang Ruimin, CEO of Haier Where do we have credibility to speak and stand behind our values and commitments? NEW BURGER KING Chris Kempczinski in 2018 (then U.S. president, now CEO) presents at the old HQ in Oak Brook, Ill. Richa NaiduReuters But in the aftermath of Easterbrook's departure,. What were your priorities in your first year as CEO? Photograph: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for McDonalds. We would have a digital relationship with those customers. If you have the golden arches outside your door, youre serving the core menu. My guiding light has been to make sure were keeping the long-term in mind and to ensure were as transparent and authentic with people as possible. We have some exciting milestones ahead, including Worldwide Convention. Integrity, and doing whats right, is at the core of who he is and how he thinks.. (2019present), Vice president, global strategy, business development, and innovation Easterbrook and McDonald's Chief People Officer David Fairhurst often partied with staffers after work hours, according to the Journal. Theres nothing more important to my job than making sure McDonalds is as relevant 10 years from now as it is today. In 1999, Google implemented TGIF company gatherings on Friday afternoons to increase employee interaction with management. In most major markets, they were at or near record cash flow, which essentially is how much money theyre able to take out of the business. So dine-in will still be important, but I think takeaway channels, like delivery, drive-thru, and order ahead with curbside pickup, will stay elevated for the foreseeable future. He has been the "heir apparent" to Easterbrook since joining the company. After 65 years of doing this, we still find ways to actually make the product just a little bit better. McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said he is spending more time planning so the company is prepared for future executive departures. chris kempczinski leadership style. He has been with McDonalds Corporation since 2015 and is in his second year as president and CEO. Chris Kempczinski: The single most important thing I have to do as CEO is ensure that our brand continues to be relevant. One thing weve learned during the pandemic is that if we simplify our business and focus on what were great atlike drive-thru and our core menu itemstheres a fantastic benefit for our customers. In an email to employees, Pichai attributed the cancellation to meeting leaks and dwindling attendance. Brunswick Partner Jayne Rosefield is Head of the firms Chicago office and Global Consumer Industries Practice. According to the Wall Street Journal, Easterbrook and other executives, including the former head of McDonalds human resources, David Fairhurst often partied after work with other executives and staffers (Fairhurst voluntarily stepped down one day after Easterbrook was outsted). fries? The prior CEO stepped down last year over a compromise of company values, and this year the company has faced accusations of racial discrimination and sexual harassment. Within one year and one month of joining McDonalds, Kempczinski was promoted to president of McDonalds USA in October 2016. As chief executive of McDonald's, Chris Kempczinski occupies one of the most powerful posts in the corporate world. Jeffrey GreenbergEducation . In this current environment, all companies are being asked to define their mission, their higher purpose. Although she opposed "defunding" the police, her 2021 budget shrank the force by eliminating hundreds of vacancies. I cover the intersection of business, psychology and gender. McDonald's Corporation Announces Leadership Transition. In those 60 minutes, he reminded us all of the responsibility we have to deliver on McDonalds greater purpose., It was a belief in Mr. Kempczinski that led Heidi Capozzi, Chief People Officer, to join the company in April this year. We collaborate on SOLUTIONS. Please review the third-partys privacy policy, accessibility policy, and terms. In November 2019, Mr. Kempczinski became President and Chief Executive Officer of McDonalds, the worlds largest restaurant company. When you look at the career progression that people can have in the retail industry and the career progression that people have at McDonalds, its quite remarkable. Your investments in Drive Thru and digital in restaurants have proven to be fortuitous, even prescient, amid the pandemic. One of the things that has defined McDonalds over the decades has been our emphasis on diversity, making sure we have a franchisee population that reflects the US population or the global population. So I think our reticence to publicize those things early on was a missed opportunity. Theres nothing more important to my job than making sure McDonalds is as relevant 10 years from now as it is today. Were putting ideas out there and getting consumer feedback all the timewere in constant iteration mode. Mr. Hernandez was calling to ask if Mr. Kempczinski would take over the helm of McDonalds. Its been important to me that were always connecting the decisions that we make back to what we stand for as a company. And at the time of Mr. Kempczinskis one-year anniversary in early November, McDonalds stock had spiked even above the year-earlier price when he took over as CEO. We have a big advantage with 40,000 restaurants. McKinsey: Are there companies or thinkers that you look to for inspiration? The CED discussion series, Leadership in Challenging Times, interviews business leaders about the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate. Clearly heavy drinking and womanizing shouldnt be part of the executive bonding with employees, but organizations should be aware of other issues as well. Chris Kempczinski had been at McDonald's less than five years when he was named president and CEO, in November 2019, rising to the top job after his predecessor was fired for violating company policy on personal conduct. McKinsey: Might there come a time when your business is more than just selling burgers and Executives are typically time-constrained and may be reluctant to participate in formal socializing events. Im excited about all the opportunities for us there. Centers offer access to world-class experts, research, events, and senior executive communities. Kempczinski has also heard from other stakeholders about McDonald's culture and ethics through meetings with corporate officers, marketing managing directors and the franchise leadership of the chain's International Development Licensed markets. How do you think youve improved the companys marketing since you became CEO? Monthly, forward-looking composite of eight proven labor-market indicators. The Journal said Fairhurst couldn't be reached for comment and a representative for Easterbrook told the newspaper he wasn't available to comment. As for anything outside of those topics, we want to be helpful, but its important to recognize that were in the business of selling burgers and fries. How do you decide which issues youll address? What dont we know? McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski is trying to restore a more professional culture, starting with feedback from key stakeholders and applying the chain's core values across the system of franchisees, suppliers and employees. In a recent interview with McKinseys Greg Kelly, Kempczinski discussed his tenure so far and what the next normal might look like for McDonalds. How does the brand remain so cohesive while catering to local tastes?We use the expressionIm sure other companies use it as welltheres freedom within the framework. The challenge for us is to decide where to get engaged. Mr. Ozan reflected on his CEOs approach: From the outset of this pandemic, Chriss priority has been clear-protecting restaurant crew and customers above all else. 2017 - 2022McDonald's. Kempczinski has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Now, we actually have to create some advantage there. Chris Kempczinski: Its definitely been an unusual onboarding into this role. Then, all of a sudden, here comes COVID-19, and it significantly disrupts our business. So, are there things we can do to speed up the Drive Thru? Given your franchise model, how do you ensure during COVID-19 that restaurants can survive the short term and be in a position of strength for the long term?We were lucky in that McDonalds franchisees came into the pandemic in a very strong position. But Im now a convert to the spicy. As one of the worlds leading brands, McDonalds makes a difference in the lives of people every day. Track the latest short-, medium-, and long-term growth outlooks for 77 economies. 09 September 2020. 2023 CNBC LLC. The circumstances were unusual. New York CNN Business . A whole group or team needs to be invited to the socializing opportunities with an executive, not just those employees who share the executives interests and hobbies. But the flip side is that theres also greater authenticity. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin started TGIFs and were regular attendees, but the pair stopped attending regularly in 2019. All Rights Reserved. Were looking to innovate and actually make sure that were doing it better than anybody else. Assigning leaders to meet with entire teams for an occasional lunch or drinks can go a long way toward increasing employee engagement for all employees. In that same press release, McDonalds announced the companys new CEO was taking the reins immediately. Chris Kempczinski was enjoying a quiet moment at his home in Chicago last autumn when he received a call from Chair of the Board of McDonalds Corporation, Rick Hernandez. Just hours after McDonald's had released what Kempczinski, 51, called possibly the "worst" quarterly results in the history of the companysales dropped 24% the CEO joined TIME for a video. The McDonalds brand is well known around the world. Yet by the fourth quarter of 2020, the companys global systemwide salesat $25.8 billionhad fully recovered to its 2019 fourth-quarter sales. What are some of your boldest predictions for McDonalds over the next ten years? Also, we could have done a better job demonstrating and articulating what McDonalds was doing to support communities. In most major markets, they were at or near record cash flow, which essentially is how much money theyre able to take out of the business. Im a product of the 90s. Chris Kempczinski President and Chief Executive Officer at McDonald's Corporation Greater Chicago Area 62K followers 19 connections Join to follow McDonald's Duke University About As President. During this first year, Mr. Kempczinski has proven agile in his role and is firmly focused on the path ahead, having refreshed the companys values over the summer and recently launching McDonalds new growth strategy, Accelerating the Arches. He said he hoped to speak with the victims' parents. Chris Kempczinski: Yes, a couple of things come to mind. November 9, 2020, 6:00 AM PST. What Im most impressed with are the people who are servant leaders the people who prioritize others.What decisions did you make during the pandemic that proved critical? Weve been in the Drive Thru business for decades, so I dont want to say that we had any foresight in that. Seventy-five percent of the population across our top markets live within three miles of a McDonalds. To manage that risk, though, you have to make sure your creative teams are nimble. We recognize our responsibilities as one of the world's leading companies, and we're committed to being part of the solution wherever we can make a difference. I graduated from college in 91right around the time Nelson Mandela had been released from prison, become President of the ANC, and started negotiations to end apartheid. The CED discussion series, Leadership in Challenging Times, interviews business leaders about the unprecedented . Senior Partner, Consumer Industries Group Global Lead, Head of Office, Chicago. I stepped up my communication to make sure that our employees understood what our plan was to get through thisbut also to get a lot of feedback. (19972000), Serves as a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Eats McDonalds food five days a week; favorite menu items are Filet-O-Fish and the Vanilla Cone. On occasion I will do a Quarter Pounder. P.S. In addition to serving on the McDonalds Board of Directors, he is also a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Married, with 2 children, Holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a bachelors degree from Duke University, McDonalds I am excited to share that, starting today, you can follow me on Instagram @chrisk_mcd. Leadership McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski apologizes for his text to Chicago's mayor "Those comments were wrong," he said in a video to the system amid a furor over the message, which appeared to blame parents for shooting deaths of two kids. Whats this we hear about changes to your iconic burgers?The adjustments were making are a series of small changes that add up to one big difference our customers really notice. Theres the promise of potentially what youre going to learn but theres also the risk of starting all over. Its been helpful for us just to keep people in the loop, informed, focused forward. We have our core menu: hamburger, cheeseburger, Big Mac, Quarter Pounder. Amid all else thats going on, you recently launched a purpose to feed and foster communities? Our records show that you are a Member of The Conference Board, but you do not have access to this webcast based on your Membership level. . By Jonathan Maze on Nov. 06, 2021 I think the important thing is dont try to stand out. Mr. Kempczinski had barely warmed his chair in the job when the pandemic struck, closing restaurants around the world seemingly overnight. Human Capital Benchmarking & Data Analytics. The meetings lost their impact when they became too large. I did spend time up front providing a framework a list of five things to help guide those decisions: Were all in this together. The more delivery locations you have, and each of our restaurants is a delivery location, the better you can make that experience. COVID-19 has raised the stakes for boards, argues Brunswicks Paddy McGuinness, former UK Deputy National Security Adviser. Beyond our leadership platform, we have our five company values, one of which is inclusion. McDonald's new CEO, Chris Kempczinski, seems to be facing low or manageable risk and should do fine - highest chance of success. When you eat as much McDonalds as I do, you think in day parts. Our ambition is to offer everyone an opportunity to fulfill their dreams, no matter where they're starting from. We build COMMUNITY. Where weve launched it, in markets like Canada and Australia, weve seen great success with meaningful lifts in both sales and traffic, and were excited about what it can do in the rest of the world as well. So you just have to accept the unpredictability and risk as part of the bargain to be a relevant brand today. After taking over as CEO in mid-November, Kempczinski asked employees for feedback. Using electronic platforms, the managers can interact on their own schedule. This button displays the currently selected search type. Evidence had emerged that McDonalds then-CEO, Steve Easterbrook, had violated company policy and undermined company values. Looking at your recent marketing initiatives, featuring cultural icons like Travis Scott and J Balvin, and the recent launch of Spicy Chicken McNuggets, I have to wonder how a brand as established as McDonalds continually reimagines marketing? I like the Nuggets with ketchup. Second, what if youre a loyal customer? Put simply, he is a leader who at his core "cares a lot." First, we have the four pillars of what we call our Corporate Leadership Platform: supporting local farmers and local sourcing, protecting our planet, serving our communities in times of need, and providing jobs and opportunity. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that under Kempczinski's predecessor, Steve Easterbrook, the company's culture tolerated late-night socializing between senior managers and rank-and-file employees. I think its precisely because McDonalds had a very strong core set of values that the issue with my predecessor was as traumatic for the company as it was. Where do we have an opportunity and a responsibility to make a contribution? divya bhaskaran silbermann,