McDonald's said Lenny's election follows a vote Monday by its board, but it didn't say whether he would be replacing a departing director or would fill a new spot. A company spokesperson couldn't immediately be reached.

Lenny is also a director of Sunoco Inc. Before joining Hershey in March 2001, he was president of Nabisco Biscuit Co. and became a group vice president at Kraft Foods Inc. after Kraft acquire Nabisco.

McDonald's shares were down 32 cents at $33.82 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange.