James D. Farley, Jr. Elected to McDonald’s Board of Directors
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD) has announced the election of James D. Farley, Jr. to its Board of Directors, effective February 4, 2026. The appointment adds a seasoned global executive with extensive experience in leading large-scale transformations, modernizing operations, and strengthening iconic consumer brands. Farley’s election underscores McDonald’s ongoing commitment to strategic board refreshment and long-term governance excellence.
With more than three decades of leadership experience across the automotive and consumer brand sectors, Farley brings a strong track record of innovation, operational discipline, and customer-centric transformation. His addition to the Board reflects McDonald’s focus on aligning its governance structure with the evolving demands of a global, technology-enabled marketplace.
Leadership at Ford Motor Company
Farley currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Ford Motor Company and is a member of Ford’s Board of Directors. Since assuming the CEO role, he has spearheaded the company’s Ford+ transformation strategy—an ambitious initiative designed to reposition Ford for long-term growth in a rapidly changing mobility landscape.
The Ford+ strategy centers on digital innovation, advanced technology integration, customer-focused design, and operational modernization. Under Farley’s leadership, Ford has accelerated its push into electric vehicles, software-enabled services, and connected vehicle platforms, while also reinforcing its core automotive operations. His approach emphasizes balancing present-day performance with future-oriented investment, ensuring the company remains competitive while navigating industry disruption.
Prior to becoming CEO, Farley held senior leadership roles at Ford, including Chief Operating Officer and President of New Businesses, Technology and Strategy. James In those positions, he was instrumental in shaping Ford’s innovation roadmap and guiding strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the organization’s culture, product portfolio, and customer engagement model.
Global Operational Experience
Throughout his tenure at Ford, Farley has overseen major regional and global operations. He previously led Ford’s business across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, navigating diverse markets with varying regulatory, economic, and consumer dynamics. His leadership in these regions strengthened Ford’s global footprint while enhancing operational efficiency and brand positioning.
Farley also served as head of Global Marketing, Sales & Service, where he helped redefine how Ford connects with customers worldwide. His work in revitalizing brand strategy and modernizing marketing practices reinforced Ford’s identity in competitive markets.
A significant milestone in his earlier career at Ford was leading the reinvention of the Lincoln brand. By focusing on premium design, customer experience, and brand storytelling, Farley played a pivotal role in repositioning Lincoln within the luxury automotive segment.
Additionally, he held leadership responsibility for Ford’s operations in Canada, Mexico, and South America, gaining hands-on experience managing large workforces, complex supply chains, and cross-border business strategies. These experiences have shaped his expertise in steering multinational organizations through transformation while maintaining operational excellence.
Foundation at Toyota and Lexus
James Before joining Ford, Farley spent nearly two decades at Toyota and Lexus, where he developed deep expertise in brand marketing and product leadership. His tenure at Toyota provided him with valuable insights into lean manufacturing principles, continuous improvement processes, and disciplined operational management—principles that later influenced his leadership approach at Ford.
At Lexus, Farley played a central role in shaping brand perception and driving growth in competitive markets. His work focused on aligning product development with evolving consumer expectations, reinforcing the importance of customer-centric strategies in sustaining long-term success.
This early career foundation in global automotive marketing and brand stewardship has equipped Farley with a nuanced understanding of how to grow large-scale consumer businesses while preserving brand integrity.
A Strategic Addition to McDonald’s Board
McDonald’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chris Kempczinski highlighted Farley’s broad leadership experience and strategic perspective as valuable assets for the company.
“James brings invaluable experience balancing innovation with operational excellence, modernizing customer experience, engaging independent operators, and harnessing technology to improve systems at scale,” Kempczinski said. “His leadership in optimizing a business today while building tomorrow will be useful as we continue to drive momentum across our business.”
Farley’s experience in modernizing global systems and integrating technology across enterprise operations aligns closely with McDonald’s strategic priorities. As the company continues to invest in digital ordering, data analytics, automation, and restaurant modernization, his background in managing large-scale transformation initiatives is expected to provide meaningful insight at the board level.
Farley’s Perspective on McDonald’s
Farley expressed admiration for McDonald’s longstanding global brand strength and operational model.
“McDonald’s is one of the most admired and recognized brands in the world,” Farley said. “I’ve long respected how the company balances scale with local entrepreneurship and tradition with innovation. I’m honored to join their world-class values-based Board and look forward to contributing to McDonald’s next era of growth.”
His comments reflect an appreciation for McDonald’s unique hybrid model—combining global brand consistency with local operator empowerment. The company’s franchise-based system, which relies heavily on independent operators, mirrors aspects of the dealership networks and distributed operations common in the automotive industry, making Farley’s experience particularly relevant.
Strengthening Governance and Board Refreshment
With Farley’s election, McDonald’s Board of Directors expands to 12 members. The Board continues to emphasize thoughtful succession planning and skills-based refreshment to ensure it remains equipped to guide the company’s evolving strategic agenda.
Notably, half of McDonald’s current directors have joined since 2022. This deliberate refreshment reflects the company’s commitment to maintaining a forward-looking governance structure that incorporates diverse expertise across technology, operations, finance, consumer engagement, and global markets.
Board renewal is a critical component of long-term corporate stewardship. By regularly assessing skill sets and bringing in leaders with contemporary experience in transformation and innovation, McDonald’s aims to maintain strategic agility in a dynamic business environment.
Positioning for the Future
Farley’s appointment comes at a time when McDonald’s continues to invest in digital innovation, operational efficiency, and customer experience enhancements across its global system. The company remains focused on leveraging technology to streamline restaurant operations, personalize customer engagement, and drive growth across dine-in, drive-thru, delivery, and mobile platforms.
As industries converge around data-driven operations and consumer-centric design, Farley’s cross-sector leadership experience offers valuable perspective. James His career demonstrates a consistent emphasis on modernizing legacy systems while protecting the core values that define iconic brands.
With a strengthened Board and renewed commitment to governance excellence, McDonald’s continues positioning itself for sustained growth and long-term value creation. Farley’s addition reinforces the company’s strategy of blending operational rigor with innovation-driven leadership—ensuring that McDonald’s remains competitive, resilient, and future-ready in the years ahead.
SOURCE LINK : https://corporate.mcdonalds.com/
