OAK BROOK, ILL. — The board of directors of McDonald’s Corp. has elected Doug Goare, currently executive vice-president of McDonald’s global supply chain and real estate development, as president of McDonald’s Europe, effective Oct. 1. He will succeed Steve Easterbrook, who will resign Sept. 30 to join the privately owned Gondola Group and will assume operational leadership of the international restaurant brand PizzaExpress as chief executive.

Mr. Goare will oversee operations of more than 7,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 40 European countries. A 33-year veteran of McDonald’s, Mr. Goare will relocate to Geneva, Switzerland, headquarters for McDonald’s Europe. He will continue to report to Don Thompson, McDonald’s president and chief operating officer.


“Doug has led our strategic efforts for both global supply chain and restaurant development in Europe and around the world,” Mr. Thompson said. “I’m confident that his strong management and operations experience, his deep working knowledge of our business, and his subject matter expertise will bolster his leadership of McDonald’s Europe.”

The board also elected Jose Armario, current group president of McDonald’s Canada and Latin America, to succeed Mr. Goare as executive vice-president of global supply chain, real estate development and franchising. Mr. Armario will be responsible for McDonald’s $23 billion procurement of food, packaging and premiums, worldwide purchasing and supplier relationships, and food safety and quality systems strategy. He also will lead the company’s efforts in developing locations for McDonald’s restaurants around the world.