McDonald’s Corp. President and COO Mike Roberts abruptly resigned from his post yesterday, and the QSR has named Ralph Alvarez, former president of McDonald’s North America, as his replacement.
Roberts, a 29-year veteran of the fast-food chain, didn’t give a reason for his resignation other than saying, “The decision to resign was one of the most difficult of my life,” in an e-mail to company employees today. McDonald’s promoted Roberts to president in November 2004. Roberts joined McDonald’s in 1977 as a regional purchasing manager in 1977 and moved up the ranks to president, West Division, for McDonald’s USA and later to president of McDonald’s USA.
“We all owe Mike a tremendous debt of gratitude,” said McDonald’s CEO Jim Skinner, in a statement. “Because of his leadership, our system is stronger and more aligned than ever.”
Alvarez, who also worked as president of McDonald’s Mexico, moves to his new post after a 12-year career at McDonald’s. “Ralph has an exemplary track record in both our domestic and international businesses,” Skinner said. “He is a tremendous leader and team player.”
McDonald’s also named Don Thompson, its executive VP and COO of McDonald’s USA, to president of U.S. operations. Thompson, 43, started his career at the Oak Brook, IL-based chain in 1990 as a restaurant systems engineer.
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