McDonald's appointed two new significant leaders

McDonald's Corporation appointed Robert Gibbs as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Communications Officer and Silvia Lagnado as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Marketing Officer. Both will report to McDonald's President and CEO Steve Easterbrook.

"Robert and Silvia are both highly-respected, talented leaders who will bring a wealth of experience and outside perspective to McDonald's as we build a more modern, progressive burger company," said Easterbrook. 

In his new role, Gibbs will lead McDonald's corporate relations group, which manages internal and external communications and government and public affairs. Gibbs joins McDonald's from The Incite Agency, a strategic communications advisory firm he co-founded in 2013. Prior to that he held several senior advisory roles in the White House, serving as President Barack Obama's press secretary during his first term, then as senior campaign advisor during his re-election campaign.

In her new role, Lagnado will be responsible for all aspects of global brand management for McDonald's, including global marketing, menu and consumer insights. Lagnado was most recently chief marketing officer of Bacardi Limited, where she was responsible for setting the marketing vision for multiple brands.

McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with over 36,000 locations serving approximately 69 million customers in over 100 countries each day. More than 80% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business men and women.