McDonald's fires its CEO, Steve Easterbrook, over relationship with an employee

McDonald’s fired its Chief Executive Officer, Steve Easterbrook on Sunday, November 3rd because he had a consensual relationship with an employee against company policy, losing the strategist who had pushed the world’s largest restaurant chain into delivery and online ordering.

The burger company’s board voted on Friday (November 1) to terminate Mr Easterbrook, 52, after investigating the relationship, according to a statement on Sunday.

McDonald’s policy doesn’t allow the CEO to have a relationship with anyone in the company.

Chris Kempczinski, most recently president of McDonald’s USA, was named the company’s new CEO, effective immediately. 

He also joined the McDonald’s board. The company named Joe Erlinger, most recently president of international operated markets, as president of McDonald’s USA, succeeding Kempczinski.

Easterbrook described his personal conduct as “a mistake” that violated company policy, in an email to employees on Sunday released by the company. “Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on,” Easterbrook said in the email.