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Christopher Kempczinski

President and CEO at MCDONALDS
Board
Since November 2019
Age
56 years
Tenure
Joined McDonald's in 2015 as Executive Vice President of Strategy, Business Development, and Innovation, was promoted to President of McDonald's USA in 2017, and became President and CEO in November 2019.

Also at MCDONALDS

CH
Catherine Hoovel
SVP and Corporate Controller
DR
Desiree Ralls-Morrison
EVP, Global Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

About

Christopher Kempczinski has built a distinguished professional career marked by his steady advancement through leadership roles in one of the world's most recognized names in the quick service restaurant industry. He began his journey at the company in 2015, taking charge of global strategy and innovation as the Executive Vice President of Strategy, Business Development, and Innovation, a role in which he laid the groundwork for subsequent growth initiatives.

In 2017, he was promoted to President of McDonald's USA, where he was responsible for the operations of approximately 14,000 restaurants across the United States. His leadership during this period not only strengthened the company's U.S. market but also set the stage for a broader, global vision for the business.

In November 2019, he assumed his current role as President and CEO, spearheading the innovative "Accelerating the Arches" strategy to drive growth and enhance value across the McDonald's system. Although detailed personal background and educational history are not available, his extensive experience and strategic direction have been instrumental in shaping the company's trajectory.

$MCD Performance Under Christopher Kempczinski

Past Roles

OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
McDonald’s Corporation President, McDonald’s USA 2017–2019 Oversaw approximately 14,000 restaurants in the United States
McDonald’s Corporation Executive Vice President – Strategy, Business Development, and Innovation 2015–2016 Oversaw global strategy, business development, and innovation
The Kraft-Heinz Company Executive Vice President of Growth Initiatives and President of Kraft International 2014–2015 Led growth initiatives
The Kraft-Heinz Company President of Kraft Canada 2012–2014 Managed operations in Canada
The Kraft-Heinz Company Senior Vice President – U.S. Grocery 2008–2012 Oversaw U.S. grocery operations

External Roles

OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
The Procter & Gamble Company Board of Directors N/A Current board membership

Fixed Compensation

Data from  FY 2023
Component NameAmountPayment ScheduleAdditional Details
Base Salary$1,417,500 2023Fixed base salary for the year
Deferred Compensation - Executive Contributions$339,599 2023Executive contributions to deferred compensation plan
Deferred Compensation - Registrant Contributions$323,828 2023Registrant contributions to deferred compensation plan

Performance Compensation

Data from  FY 2023

STIP (Short-Term Incentive Plan)

Performance MetricThresholdTargetMaximumAdditional Details
Operating Income Growth [Unit: %]0% 9.5% 19.7%
Systemwide Sales Growth [Unit: %]0% 8.3% 16.2%
New Restaurant Openings [Count]382 449 477
Human Capital Metrics [Performance Factor]N/A92.7% N/AFocus on diversity in leadership roles
  • Payout Percentage: The STIP was paid at 141.3% of the target amount resulting in a payout of $4,027,620 .
  • Target Basis: The STIP target was set at 200% of salary.
  • Grant Details:
    • Grant Date: February 13, 2023
    • Grant Date Fair Value: $6,500,181
    • Grant Date Stock Price: $266.20 per share
  • Vesting: No vesting schedule applies as the STIP is a cash-based incentive plan.

PRSUs (Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units)

MetricWeightThresholdTargetMaximumAdditional Details
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth75% 0.0% 9.0% 13.0% Three-Year Compound Annual Growth
Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)25% 16.0% 20.0% 24.0% Three-Year Average Annualized ROIC
TSR ModifierN/A -25% to +25% N/ACap: 100% if absolute TSR negative; up to 200% of target Relative performance vs. S&P 500 Index
  • Vesting: The PRSUs vest on the third anniversary of the grant date (February 13, 2026).
  • Grant Details:
    • Grant Date: February 13, 2023
    • Grant Date Fair Value: $6,500,181
    • Exercise/Stock Price: $266.20 per share
  • Maximum Value at Grant Date: Up to $13,000,362 if highest performance is achieved.

Long-Term Incentive Award

This award is a combination of PRSUs and Stock Options.

PRSUs Component:

  • Details are the same as outlined above under the PRSUs section.

Stock Options Component:

DetailValueAdditional Details
Vesting Schedule25% annually over four years Vesting begins from the grant date
Grant Date Fair Value$6,500,043
Grant Date Stock Price$266.20 per share
  • Additional Conditions: The overall award is capped at 200% of the target award with potential adjustments such as dividend equivalents based on PRSU vesting.

Interviews

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski | In Good Company | Norges Bank Investment Management thumbnail

McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski | In Good Company | Norges Bank Investment Management

BC CEO Club: Chris Kempczinski, Chair & CEO of McDonald's Corporation thumbnail

BC CEO Club: Chris Kempczinski, Chair & CEO of McDonald's Corporation

Google Cloud Next 2025 Keynote: McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski thumbnail

Google Cloud Next 2025 Keynote: McDonalds CEO Chris Kempczinski

Techusiness
1:38 min
Apr 10, 2025
McDonald's CEO on state of the consumer: Seeing category slowdown from almost every major market thumbnail

McDonald's CEO on state of the consumer: Seeing category slowdown from almost every major market

CNBC Television
6:02 min
Jul 31, 2024
How Chris Kempczinski Leveraged 'The High Potential's Advantage' to Become McDonald's CEO thumbnail

How Chris Kempczinski Leveraged 'The High Potential's Advantage' to Become McDonald's CEO

Epic Reads Hub
6:27 min
May 22, 2024