McDonald’s announces new board of directors and departure of long-time director

McDonald's has made big changes in its Board of Directors after adding three new members, and this was confirmed this week. The fast-food chain also mentioned that with the arrival of new ones, it would also be losing one of its long-time directors.

As per CNBC, Sheila Penrose, who has been with McDonald’s for almost 16 years, is set to retire on Sept. 30. She has led the company’s board’s sustainability and corporate responsibility committee for more than a decade.

It was said that billionaire Carl Icahn, has aimed to take her seat a few months ago but was not successful in his attempt. He has been fighting with the company over animal welfare, but Penrose survived the challenge.

The chairman of McDonald’s board, Enrique Hernandez Jr., praised the retiring Penrose for her dedication and works in managing McDonald’s progress on its diversity, climate, equity, responsible sourcing, and inclusion targets.

As Penrose leaves next month, three new board members are coming, and they are Tony Capuano, Jennifer Taubert, and Amy Weaver. They will be joining McDonald’s after the board elected them to become new members. They will officially take their seats on Oct. 1st.

"Sheila has been a tremendous resource for me on our Board of Directors. She's helped to spearhead our sustainability efforts and advocated on behalf of the larger role that McDonald's plays in communities around the world. I will miss her," McDonald’s president and chief executive officer, said in a press release.

He added, "At the same time, I am excited to welcome Tony, Jennifer and Amy to McDonald's. They are inspiring leaders with a demonstrated track-record leading large, complex organizations. Their experience stewarding some of the world's most respected global brands will benefit McDonald's greatly and position the Company for continued growth."

The latest board shake-up at McDonald’s will bring the total number of directors to 14. It was noted that with the addition of Taubert and Weaver, the number of female members also doubled.

Finally, Capuano is a member of the Business Roundtable and CEO of Marriott International. Taubert is Johnson & Johnson’s executive vice president and worldwide chairman of pharmaceuticals who has also worked for Merck and Allergan, while Weaver has been Salesforce's chief financial officer since 2021.