McDonald’s New York Metro Region announced the hiring of Mathew Ajayi, who began working with the brand more than 20 years ago, to serve as vice president of operations in the region. In this role, Ajayi will oversee operations for more than 600 local McDonald’s restaurants.
“Mat is a highly talented individual who has a deep understanding of our brand, and we are thrilled to welcome him to our market,” says Mwaffak Kanjee, vice president and general manager of McDonald’s New York Metro Region. “We have a number of exciting developments taking place in our region this summer, and we look forward to leveraging his experience and the vision he will bring to his new role.”
Ajayi began his McDonald’s career as a crew person in Fresno, California, and advanced through restaurant management positions while completing his education. He has served as an area supervisor, overseeing company-owned restaurants; a business consultant for the Pacific Sierra regional staff; and a director of operations for the Southern California region, overseeing the operations performance of the more than 800 McDonald’s restaurants in that market. Throughout his career, he has received a number of prestigious internal awards, including: the Ray Kroc Award (2001); Outstanding Restaurant Manager (2000, 2001, and 2002); Drive-Thru Excellence Award (2002); and MA2C Leadership Award (2008).
“Mat is a great example of the professional growth opportunities that are possible at McDonald’s,” Kanjee adds. “By completing his education and working his way up through the ranks, he has honed his knowledge and experience of our brand. He started out as a crew member and has risen to one of the top operations positions in our market.”
The McDonald’s New York Metro Region is in the process of testing new restaurant models to meet customers’ needs, including a drive-thru and walk-up only prototype (in Jersey City, New Jersey) for customers on the go, and several restaurant models with made-to-order burgers, interactive kiosks and tableside service throughout the region. As the brand’s presence in the region continues to evolve, Ajayi will play a key role in ensuring each restaurant’s commitment to elevating the customer experience.
“We are focused on delivering what matters most to our customers: fresh food, excellent service and a contemporary restaurant experience,” Ajayi says. “I look forward to working with the entire New York Metro team as our brand continues to evolve to meet and exceed customer expectations.”
