McDonald's Appoints Chief Operations Officer for U.S.

McDonald's Corporation's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Cantalupo, announced today the appointment of Ralph Alvarez to the newly created role of Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, McDonald's U.S.A.

Alvarez will report to Mike Roberts, President, McDonald's U.S.A. and will have responsibility for all of McDonald's Restaurant operations in the U.S.

"As part of our on-going efforts to focus on improving results, the U.S. Chief Operations Officer will lead the day-to-day operations of our U.S. restaurants and ensure that our customers receive outstanding levels of quality, service and cleanliness," said Cantalupo.

As a member of the U.S. Executive Leadership Team, Alvarez will oversee the operations of the company's three U.S. Divisions -- with more than 13,000 restaurants in total -- and the company's Restaurant Systems and operations functions.

Alvarez is a veteran of the quick-service restaurant industry and joined McDonald's in 1994 as a regional vice president for the Sacramento Region. He has also served as a regional director for McDonald's partner brand, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and worked internationally as president of McDonald's Mexico. Most recently, Alvarez served as president of McDonald's U.S.A.'s Central Division -- with responsibility for nearly 4,300 restaurants.

"Ralph's extensive operational experience will help us stay focused on growing our core business by improving our customers' experience," said Roberts. "Everything we're doing today in McDonald's U.S.A. is about better service, more contemporary food choices, and giving more people more reasons to visit McDonald's more often."

McDonald's is the world's leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants around the world serving 46 million customers each day.