Jim Skinner
Chief Executive Officer
McDonald's Corporation

As McDonald’s Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Skinner leads the world’s largest food service company with 32,000 restaurants in 117 countries. McDonald’s serves 60 million customers each day and employs 1.7 million people across the globe in corporate and restaurant positions.

Skinner is one of the three architects of McDonald’s worldwide revitalization plan launched in 2003 that turned the company around. Upon becoming CEO in 2004, Skinner set three top priorities for his leadership: long-term sustainable growth for the company; talent management and leadership development; and promoting balanced active lifestyles.

In 2007, Dow Jones/Marketwatch named Skinner “CEO of the Year,” and Restaurants & Institutions magazine bestowed him “2007 Executive of the Year.” In 2008, Skinner was named one of “America’s Best CEOs” by Institutional Investor magazine.  Chief Executive magazine named Skinner the "2009 CEO of the Year" and he was recently named one of Barron’s “30 Most Respected CEOs.”

Skinner’s first job was working in his neighborhood McDonald’s restaurant in Davenport, Iowa while in high school.  After 10 years in the U.S. Navy, he returned to McDonald’s as a restaurant manager trainee and never looked back.  Skinner quickly ascended through the U.S. company before joining McDonald’s International management team.  In his time with McDonald’s International, Skinner oversaw development in Central Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India.  He then went on to run the European operations before serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of the McDonald’s Restaurant Group with operating accountability for 30,000 restaurants in 118 countries. Jim was next appointed Vice Chairman, a job he held for two years before being elected McDonald’s eighth CEO.

In addition, Skinner has twice served as an Advisory Director to McDonald's Corporation's Board of Directors. Currently, Skinner serves on the Board of McDonald's Corporation, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Walgreen Company, ITW (Illinois Tool Works) and Catalyst.

Skinner is also a member of several civic and business organizations, including The Chicago Club, The Commercial Club of Chicago, The Economic Club of Chicago, The Executives’ Club of Chicago, and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.  Skinner also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Science and Industry.