McDonald's New EVP, Global CIO

McDonald's CEO, Chris Kempczinski sent a message to the global McDonald's system, announcing the company's new Chief Information Officer, Brian Rice.

Rice officially joins the global QSR August 31 and will be based in  Chicago.  

Kempczinski said Rice's "leads with a unique blend of head, heart and foresight.  A vocal champion for values-based leadership, he has a keen desire to empower the people around him, learn through thoughtful questions and identify synergies that lead to impactful and valuable solutions. These qualities make him a tremendous fit for our system."

Rice has worked to modernize enterprise technology for global brands including Kellogg Company, Mars, General Motors and Cardinal Health. He's continuously developed and trained technology professionals, several of whom have gone on to become CIOs of global corporations. "This experience and mentorship will be crucial as we build upon our strong foundation and deep bench of talent.," said Kempczinski.

Doubling Down on Digital

Kempczinski also shared an update on the company's digital initiatives. 

"Our innovations in digital and technology are powering our ambition to double down on our 3Ds (digital, delivery and Drive Thru). We're scaling new capabilities including loyalty – which is now in nearly 50 markets – introducing new innovations like artificial intelligence and automated order taking, and modernizing data systems to move faster while improving the experience for customers and crew.

"...These investments are driving the business forward. This past quarter, digital sales were $6 billion in our top 6 markets alone, and we have an opportunity to significantly increase digital as a percentage of total sales," Kempczinski said.

"While we further fortify an even stronger technology backbone across every aspect and touchpoint of our business, Brian will partner with leaders across the center, our segments and our markets to support our transformation of the McDonald's experience into an extraordinary and personalized journey for every person."

McDonald's is a leading global foodservice retailer with nearly 40,000 locations in over 100 countries.