Business & Tech

CEO Steps Down After Relationship With Employee: McDonald's

A relationship with an employee led to the ousting of the chief executive officer for McDonald's, according to the company.

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Steve Easterbrook, who helped unveil the McDonald's corporate headquarters in Chicago in 2018, was reportedly ousted Friday.
Steve Easterbrook, who helped unveil the McDonald's corporate headquarters in Chicago in 2018, was reportedly ousted Friday. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

CHICAGO — McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook has separated from the global restaurant franchise after having a consensual relationship with an employee, according to a statement from McDonald's. In addition to being against policy, the decision "demonstrated poor judgement," McDonald's reported.

After a vote by the McDonald's board, Easterbrook was ousted Friday. Details of the severance package will be released in federal filings this week, according to Time.

Since 2015, Easterbrook had been the CEO of McDonald's. His career with the company started more than 20 years ago, as a financial reporting manager in London in 1993.

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Chris Kempczinski, who had been the president of McDonald's USA, will take over as CEO, McDonald's announced Sunday in a press release about the leadership change.

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