Wed 13th Jul 2022 - Costa CEO Jill McDonald to join McDonald’s as president of largest international markets, including UK Costa CEO Jill McDonald to join McDonald’s as president of largest international markets, including UK: Costa Coffee chief executive Jill McDonald is to step down to become the president of McDonald’s international operated markets segment, which includes the UK. McDonald, who joined Costa in 2019, will leave the Coca-Cola-owned business at the end of the month. Jennifer Mann, senior vice-president and president of global ventures at The Coca-Cola Company, said: “Jill is leaving Costa to join McDonald’s in an international role. We will name a successor shortly. Jill joined Costa in 2019 and has played a pivotal role in setting up the business for future success. She was instrumental in helping Costa navigate the pandemic, helping Costa emerge safely and stronger. Her influence on Costa will be felt for many years to come and we wish her all the best.” The move marks a return to McDonald’s for McDonald, who worked with the company between 2006 and 2015, when she was head of the company’s UK division as well as northern Europe. McDonald’s chief executive Chris Kempczinski said: “In her tenure, she sustained strong performance across all metrics of our business, including a strengthened brand, a reinvigorated employee experience, and double-digit sales growth, all while fostering successful franchisee performance and engagement.” In the process, McDonald’s is effectively splitting its international leadership in two, with McDonald leading its largest markets such as the UK, France, Germany, Canada and Australia, while Jo Sempels will lead its remaining growth markets, known as international developmental licensed markets. That move follows the promotion of Ian Borden to chief financial officer. Borden had been McDonald’s president of international. McDonald became chief executive of Costa in 2019 when she took over from Dominic Paul, who at the end of last month was named as the new chief executive of Whitbread. He is currently chief executive of Domino’s Pizza Group. Costa and McDonald’s feature in Propel’s UK Food and Beverage Franchisor Database, which is available exclusively to Propel Premium subscribers. The database is an exhaustive guide to the companies offering a food and beverage franchise in the UK. The third edition will be published this month – providing insight on the offer, locations, cost, business background, contacts and other key details. It will be updated and sent out again every two months. Companies can now have an unlimited number of people receive access to Propel Premium for a year for £895 plus VAT – whether they are an operator or a supplier. The single subscription rate is £445 plus VAT for operators and £545 plus VAT for suppliers. Email jo.charity@propelinfo.com to upgrade your subscription.