McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook was fired over a relationship with an employee

Ellen Cranley

November 3, 2019 10:06 PM

McDonald's fired CEO Steve Easterbrook over his relationship with another employee.

mcdonalds westerbrook

The company said in a press release that the executive was being terminated after he "violated company policy and demonstrated poor judgment involving a recent consensual relationship with an employee."
In an email to staff, Easterbrook reportedly acknowledged he had a relationship with an employee and said it was a mistake
Chris Kempczinski, who was serving as president, will succeed Easterbrook, who has been in the role since March 2015.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

McDonald's fired CEO Steve Easterbrook over his relationship with another employee, according to a press release from the company.

The board voted Friday to fire Easterbrook after investigating the relationship with the unnamed employee, two days before the executive wrote in an email to McDonald's employees that he had violated company policy on personal conduct.

"This was a mistake," Easterbrook said in the email reported by the Wall Street Journal . "Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on."

Chris Kempczinski, who was serving as president, will succeed Easterbrook, who has been in the role at the fast-food giant since March 2015.

Easterbrook previously served as head of UK operations before becoming CEO and oversaw the a mix of booming company shares and stale US store sales.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

The New McDonald's CEO Is British Here's Everything We Know About Him

All the ways McDonald's is using AI to learn what you'll order sometimes even before you know what you'll want

Leaked documents reveal McDonald's is planning to open a new breakfast battleground in the chicken sandwich wars with Chick-fil-A and Wendy's

I tried bacon cheeseburgers from the three biggest fast-food burger chains, and McDonald's was both the newest and best

NOW WATCH: 9 items to avoid buying at Costco