McDonald's announced Skye Anderson as the new President of McDonald's USA, effective immediately, as the company grapples with slowing growth in its largest market. Anderson, with over 26 years of experience at McDonald's, will oversee nearly 14,000 restaurants and focus on improving the everyday restaurant experience, strengthening value offerings, and driving profitable growth. She succeeds Joe Erlinger, who is leaving the company after almost seven years leading the U.S. business.
The appointment comes as McDonald's reported its second-quarter 2026 earnings. Global comparable sales increased by 1.3%, a notable slowdown from 3.8% in the prior year. In the U.S. market, comparable sales edged up only 0.8%, a significant decrease from the 2.5% increase a year ago, and guest counts continued to decline. CEO Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the need to "raise the bar in the U.S. and accelerate performance."
Financially, McDonald's reported consolidated revenues of $7.1 billion, up 4% year-over-year, though slightly missing Wall Street's estimate of $7.13 billion. Net income for the quarter was $2.36 billion, or $3.32 per share, compared to $2.25 billion, or $3.14 per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time charges, adjusted earnings per share were $3.38, surpassing analysts' expectations of $3.32 per share. Shares rose 1.6% in pre-market trading following the announcement, despite concerns about rising costs impacting lower-income American consumers and their discretionary spending.
