New Faces For McD’s Menu, Marketing

Fresh patties, not frozen, are just one of the changes on the menu this month for McDonald’s Corp. The Oak Brook, Ill., chain also shook up management, appointing new chiefs for marketing, menu and digital operations.

Morgan Flatley succeeds Deborah Wahl as the company’s new U.S. chief marketing officer, while Farhan Siddiqi takes over from Julia Vander Ploeg as head of U.S. digital. Linda VanGosen succeeds Lance Richards to oversee U.S. menu.

“This is an exciting time for McDonald’s as we continue to raise the bar on how we prepare and source our food, offer our customers more modern experiences, and redefine convenience through new initiatives like delivery and mobile order and pay,” McDonald’s U.S. President Chris Kempczinski said in a statement. 

VanGosen most recently was vice president at Starbucks, where she was responsible for the overall vision and strategic growth plans for Starbucks Evenings. She had previously worked with TGI Friday’s and Chili’s Grill & Bar. Flatley will report to Kempczinski and will lead integrated marketing plans for McDonald’s U.S. business while strengthening partnerships with franchisees and suppliers.