McDonald's Appoints Skye Anderson as U.S. President Amid Sales Slump

Developing a strategy to attract cost-conscious diners, McDonald's appointed company veteran Skye Anderson as President of McDonald's USA on August 4, 2026. Anderson succeeds Joe Erlinger, who will remain with the company as an advisor until early 2027. The leadership transition follows a second-quarter report showing a significant slowdown in domestic performance, with U.S. same-store sales growing only 0.8% compared to 2.5% during the same period last year.

Global same-store sales growth also decelerated to 1.3% from 3.8% in the first quarter, though the company reported a second-quarter profit of $2.36 billion and earnings per share of $3.32. McDonald's attributed the domestic slump to macroeconomic uncertainty linked to the Iran conflict and economic pressures on low-income consumers, including high gasoline and basic goods costs.

To counter these headwinds, the company launched a revamped McValue platform in April featuring items priced under $3. Chairman and CEO Chris Kempczinski stated the appointment of Anderson aims to bring urgency to U.S. operations. This shift is part of a broader growth strategy introduced in June 2026 focusing on menu innovation and new restaurant designs, with further details expected at a September investor meeting.