McDonald’s announced the creation of a new Global Impact Team to harness and direct the full strength of McDonald’s ongoing efforts to affect positive change around the world. The team will bring together key functions across the organization that are critical to achieving McDonald’s purpose to feed and foster communities, including Government Relations, Communications, Sustainability, and oversight for the company’s corporate philanthropy and ESG strategy.

To oversee this team, the company has named Katie Beirne Fallon Executive Vice President, Chief Global Impact Officer, reporting to president and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Kempczinski.

Fallon brings a wealth of experience and leadership in helping people and companies take a values-based approach to driving purposeful change in the world. She most recently served as EVP, Global Corporate Affairs for Hilton, where she was responsible for managing the company’s communications, government relations and corporate responsibility efforts.

“For more than 65 years, McDonald’s has been at the forefront of making a difference in the world, fueled by our purpose to feed and foster communities. At a time of great global complexity, there is an increasing expectation on companies to play a leading role. We welcome that challenge and are raising our ambitions,” says Chris Kempczinski, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our ability to make an impact in the world will be deeply strengthened by bringing together expertise from across our organization to create a function that is focused on purpose and guided by our values. Through this new structure, we will be able to build on the strong foundations these teams have built and drive further collaboration to have an even greater impact.”

Kempczinski continues, “Katie is an accomplished leader who embodies the values we live by every day at McDonald’s. She will bring critical insights from her experience in both the public and private sectors that will help ensure we continue to lead the way in serving our customers and stakeholders, both in our restaurants and the communities in which we operate.”

During her time at Hilton, Fallon spearheaded Hilton’s 100th anniversary campaign to elevate its reputation globally, and led the creation of “The Hilton Effect” to define the company’s century of positive impact. Under her leadership, Hilton led the hospitality industry with the launch of 2030 Travel With Purpose goals aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, committing the company to cut its environmental footprint in half and double its social impact. She also launched The Hilton Effect Foundation – the company’s first corporate foundation – focused on investing in organizations that aligned with its 2030 Goals.

“At the highest level, the McDonald’s brand is iconic and far-reaching. At a more personal level, the brand is a beacon in every one of the thousands of communities that it touches,” Fallon says. “I have long admired the Company’s willingness to use its global scale to drive positive change through sustainability efforts, community service initiatives and corporate philanthropy.”

“Today’s pace of change makes these efforts more urgent and important than ever. I am excited to work with Chris, the Senior Leadership Team and the talented teams across the business as we create a new Global Impact organization that will redefine McDonald’s positive influence on the world for years to come.”

Before joining Hilton, Fallon served more than a decade in the highest levels of the U.S. government. Fallon was Senior Advisor and Director of Legislative Affairs for President Barack Obama, serving as the President’s chief liaison to Congress and playing a lead role in negotiating major bipartisan legislation. Fallon also served as Deputy Communications Director at the White House, where she devised and executed communications strategies for the President and his Cabinet.

Fallon currently serves as a Director on the Annaly Capital Management Board, and Chair of its Corporate Responsibility Committee. She is also a Director on the International Youth Foundation Board and The Center for Employment Opportunities Board.

 

She graduated from the University of Notre Dame and earned two master’s degrees in political science in the United Kingdom as a Marshall Scholar.

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