Chris Kempczinski

Chris Kempczinski
Chris Kempczinski
Born	Christopher John Kempczinski
Birthplace	Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Occupation	Business executive
Title	President, Chairman, and CEO of McDonald's Corporation
Known for	President, Chairman, and CEO of McDonald's Corporation
Education	Duke University (BA) Harvard Business School (MBA)
Children	2

Christopher John Kempczinski is an American business executive who serves as the president, chairman, and chief executive officer of McDonald's Corporation, one of the world's largest fast-food restaurant chains. He assumed the role of president and CEO in November 2019, following the dismissal of his predecessor Steve Easterbrook, who was terminated for violating company policy by engaging in a consensual relationship with an employee. Before ascending to the top post, Kempczinski served as president of McDonald's USA, where he oversaw the company's domestic operations, including its strategic initiatives around menu innovation, restaurant experience, and technology integration. His tenure as CEO has been marked by navigating the company through the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding strategic menu and technology changes, and addressing public controversies. Kempczinski has also drawn public attention in recent years for his outspoken career advice, particularly directed at younger workers, urging personal accountability and proactive career management.

Early Life

Christopher John Kempczinski was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He grew up in the Cincinnati, Ohio metropolitan area, where he attended Indian Hill High School in the suburb of Indian Hill, Ohio.

His father, Richard Kempczinski, was a business executive who had a career in the Cincinnati area. The family's roots in the Cincinnati business community appear to have influenced Kempczinski's eventual career trajectory in corporate management.

Kempczinski has spoken publicly about his upbringing and the values that shaped his professional outlook. In various public remarks and interviews, he has emphasized the importance of personal responsibility and a strong work ethic — themes that have become recurring elements of his public persona as a corporate leader.

Education

Kempczinski earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University. He subsequently attended Harvard Business School, where he obtained his Master of Business Administration (MBA). His education at two of the United States' most prominent universities provided a foundation for his career in consumer goods and corporate management. Harvard Business School, in particular, has been a notable pipeline for Fortune 500 executives, and Kempczinski has maintained connections with the school's alumni network throughout his career.

Career

Early Career: Procter & Gamble and Other Roles

Before joining McDonald's, Kempczinski built a career across several major consumer-facing companies. He began his professional career at Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati-based consumer goods conglomerate, where he gained experience in brand management and consumer marketing. His time at Procter & Gamble provided him with foundational expertise in managing large consumer brands — skills that would prove directly relevant to his later work at McDonald's.

Kempczinski also held positions at other major corporations before his move to McDonald's. According to multiple reports, he worked at Boston Consulting Group, PepsiCo, and Kraft Foods at various points in his career. These roles gave him broad experience across consulting, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods — sectors closely aligned with the quick-service restaurant industry.

McDonald's: Rise Through the Ranks

Kempczinski joined McDonald's Corporation in 2015. He initially served in a strategy role, helping to shape the company's long-term direction during a period of significant transformation under then-CEO Steve Easterbrook. His work focused on areas including global strategy, business development, and innovation.

In 2017, Kempczinski was promoted to president of McDonald's USA, the company's largest and most important market segment. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing approximately 14,000 restaurants across the United States. His tenure as head of the U.S. business was characterized by several strategic initiatives, including the national rollout of fresh beef Quarter Pounder burgers, the modernization of restaurant interiors through the "Experience of the Future" redesign program, and expanded delivery and digital ordering capabilities.

These initiatives were part of broader efforts under the Easterbrook era to revitalize the McDonald's brand and reverse a period of stagnant or declining comparable-store sales in the United States. Kempczinski's oversight of the U.S. division during this turnaround period positioned him as one of the company's top internal candidates for future leadership.

Appointment as CEO

On November 3, 2019, McDonald's board of directors terminated CEO Steve Easterbrook after an internal investigation determined that Easterbrook had engaged in a consensual relationship with an employee, violating company policy. The board simultaneously announced Kempczinski's appointment as president and CEO, effective immediately. The transition was notable for its speed, suggesting that the board had identified Kempczinski as the clear successor.

In his initial communications as CEO, Kempczinski emphasized continuity with the strategic direction established under Easterbrook while also signaling a shift in corporate culture. The Wall Street Journal reported that Kempczinski sought to move McDonald's beyond what had been described as a "party culture" at the company's corporate headquarters, emphasizing professionalism and accountability. This cultural reset was seen as a deliberate departure from the atmosphere that had contributed to Easterbrook's downfall and other workplace conduct issues at the company.

Tenure as CEO

Kempczinski's early months as CEO were quickly overtaken by the global COVID-19 pandemic, which posed significant operational and financial challenges for the restaurant industry beginning in early 2020. Under his leadership, McDonald's adapted its operations to emphasize drive-through service, delivery, and digital ordering — channels that had already been growing but became essential during pandemic-related dining room closures.

As the company emerged from the pandemic era, Kempczinski focused on several strategic pillars. Menu innovation remained a priority, with an emphasis on core menu items and limited-time offerings designed to drive traffic and customer engagement. Technology and digital capabilities also received significant investment, as McDonald's expanded its mobile ordering platform and loyalty program to deepen customer relationships and gather data-driven insights into consumer behavior.

In 2025 and 2026, Kempczinski publicly addressed the potential impact of GLP-1 receptor agonist medications — such as Ozempic and Wegovy — on consumer eating habits and the fast-food industry. In public remarks, he highlighted McDonald's existing "protein offering" and indicated the company was exploring menu adaptations to cater to consumers using such medications, who may seek higher-protein, portion-conscious options. He described McDonald's as "pretty protein-forward" while acknowledging the need to continue adapting to shifting consumer health trends.

Kempczinski also identified broader food trends that he expected to shape 2026, including increased consumer interest in fiber, sweet-and-spicy flavor combinations, and innovative beverage offerings.

Text Message Controversy (2021)

In November 2021, Kempczinski faced public criticism after text messages he had exchanged with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot were obtained and reported by WBEZ, the local NPR affiliate in Chicago. In the texts, which were sent following the fatal shootings of two children in Chicago in spring 2021, Kempczinski appeared to attribute blame to the parents of the victims. The texts prompted accusations that his comments were insensitive and reflected racial bias, as both victims were children of color.

Workers' rights organizations and community activists in Chicago called on Kempczinski to publicly apologize and take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by his remarks. Kempczinski subsequently issued an apology, acknowledging that his texts were "wrong" and expressing regret for the hurt they caused. In a message to McDonald's employees, he stated that his comments "did not reflect his or the company's values." The incident drew significant national media attention and became a notable moment in Kempczinski's CEO tenure, raising questions about corporate leaders' private communications and their public responsibilities to the communities where their companies operate.

Career Advice and Public Commentary

Beginning in late 2025, Kempczinski attracted viral attention on social media for a series of blunt statements about career management, directed particularly at younger workers. In a widely shared Instagram video, he stated that "nobody cares about your career" and urged workers to stop waiting for employers to manage their professional development.

Kempczinski's remarks were interpreted by many as "tough love" career advice, particularly aimed at Generation Z workers entering a challenging job market. He encouraged young professionals to take ownership of their career trajectories, telling them "you've got to make things happen for yourself" and advising them to say "yes" to opportunities even if such opportunities appeared unglamorous. He warned workers against expecting an "employment deal" in which employers would actively shepherd employees' careers, framing career advancement as a fundamentally individual responsibility.

The comments generated significant discussion in business media, with outlets such as Fortune, Business Chief, Yahoo Finance, and Cleveland.com covering his statements. Some commentators praised his directness, while others noted the tension between such advice coming from the head of a corporation that employs large numbers of low-wage hourly workers.

Personal Life

Kempczinski has two children. He has maintained a relatively private personal life compared to some other high-profile corporate executives. He grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended Indian Hill High School before pursuing higher education at Duke University and Harvard Business School.

As CEO of McDonald's, Kempczinski is based at the company's global headquarters in Chicago, Illinois. McDonald's moved its headquarters from suburban Oak Brook, Illinois to Chicago's West Loop neighborhood in 2018, a decision made under his predecessor that placed the company's leadership closer to the city's urban core.

Kempczinski serves on the board of trustees of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), the company's primary philanthropic organization, which provides housing and support services to families of hospitalized children.

Other Board Service

In addition to his role at McDonald's, Kempczinski has served on the board of directors of Procter & Gamble, his former employer and one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world. His appointment to the P&G board reflected the cross-pollination between Cincinnati-area business networks and the broader consumer products industry.

He also serves on the McDonald's Corporation board of directors in his capacity as chairman, president, and CEO.

Legacy

Kempczinski's tenure as CEO of McDonald's has been defined by several major themes: navigating the company through a global pandemic, overseeing continued digital and technological transformation, and steering the world's largest fast-food chain through a period of evolving consumer preferences and public health trends. His appointment came at a moment of crisis for the company — the sudden departure of his predecessor over a workplace conduct violation — and he moved quickly to reestablish cultural norms and professionalism within the organization.

His leadership has also been characterized by a willingness to engage publicly on topics beyond the immediate operations of the company. His career advice to younger workers, while polarizing, generated a level of public attention unusual for a fast-food industry CEO and positioned him as a visible voice in broader conversations about work, career development, and generational attitudes toward employment.

The 2021 text message controversy, however, remains a notable blemish on his record, highlighting the challenges corporate leaders face in balancing private communications with public accountability, particularly in communities grappling with issues of racial inequality and gun violence.

As of 2026, Kempczinski continues to lead McDonald's as it responds to shifting consumer trends, including the growing use of GLP-1 medications and changing dietary preferences, positioning the company to adapt its menu and operations to an evolving marketplace.