McDonald’s Names Skye Anderson President of U.S. Business

Anderson succeeds Joe Erlinger, who is stepping down after a two-decade tenure, including seven years leading the U.S. operations. The appointment follows a planned leadership shift initiated earlier this year when Anderson returned to the U.S. division as Chief Operating Officer. Her mandate is to execute the company’s “McDonald’s > NEXT” strategy, which focuses on accelerating growth and productivity across nearly 14,000 restaurants.

Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski credited Anderson with a rare blend of operational discipline and financial acumen. During her previous four-year stint leading the U.S. West Zone, she oversaw the modernization of over 5,700 locations, helping drive a 30 percent increase in comparable sales and boosting average restaurant unit cash flow by $100,000. Her background includes extensive roles in international finance, field leadership, and the establishment of the company’s Global Business Services division.

Erlinger, who departs after overseeing significant digital and operational shifts, will remain with the company as an advisor until early 2027 to ensure a smooth transition. Anderson expressed a commitment to maintaining the existing foundation while focusing on the practical execution of service improvements for crew and customers alike.