McDonald's US CMO Alyssa Buetikofer to Depart After 15 Years

Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer of McDonald’s USA, has announced plans to step down from her role after more than 15 years with the company. 

According to McDonald’s, she will remain with the company until December 18 in order to support a smooth transition between leadership. 

As the fast-food chain begins its search for its new US CMO, Morgan Flatley, the company’s Global Chief Marketing Officer, will take on additional responsibilities by supporting the US business as interim Chief Creative Officer. 

Meanwhile, Charlie Newberger, Corporate VP and Global Category Head of Beverages and Desserts, will serve as interim Senior Vice President and US Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer. 

“Anyone who knows me knows I’m passionate about three things in my life: family, brand and tennis,” says Alyssa. 

“For a long time, I found a balance between them that worked well. More recently, I’ve realised that balance needs to look different.

“And so, after 15 years, I’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to step away from McDonald’s at the end of this year and spend more time with my children and family.” 

A 15-year career

Alyssa first joined McDonald’s in 2011 as a Global Marketing Manager of Media Strategy, before progressing to a series of marketing leadership roles. 

These have included stints as a Digital Media Director, Senior Director of Calendar Planning and Value Marketing and the Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s Canada, before taking on her current role in February 2025. 

She has led several successful launches and brand moments across the US and Canadian businesses over the years, including the return of Snack Wraps and Monopoly, the launch of the company’s new beverage platform and its Grinch Meal. 

“Fifteen years ago, I couldn’t have known how much McDonald’s would come to mean to me,” says Alyssa.

“Over the years, it has become so much more than a place I worked. I’ve had the privilege of helping shape one of the most iconic brands in the world, creating work that connected with fans and became part of moments and memories far beyond our restaurants.”

According to a joint statement from Morgan, Skye Anderson, President of McDonald’s USA and Jill McDonald, EVP and President of International Operated Markets, Alyssa has also brought “strong customer instincts, thoughtful leadership and deep partnership with Owner/Operators” to her role – helping to strengthen the company’s marketing capabilities and better position the brand for future growth. 

“There is so much I’m proud of, but what has made these years most meaningful are the relationships,” says Alyssa. 

“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside people from across the Company, Owner/Operators, Suppliers, and agency partners who challenged me, believed in me, inspired me and made me better. Some became mentors. Many became dear friends.” 

A leadership transition

Alyssa is leaving McDonald’s marketing leadership in good hands. 

Morgan has served as the company’s Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of New Business Ventures since November 2021, and has led some of McDonald’s most successful marketing campaigns. 

This includes the company’s ‘Fan Truths’ strategy – which looked at how real-world customers interact with McDonald’s food – and its ‘Famous Orders’ collaborations, named 2023’s most effective campaign worldwide by Effie Worldwide. 

Charlie, meanwhile, has been with McDonald’s for more than 17 years, holding roles in areas such as operations, field marketing, value and field leadership. 

This, McDonald’s has said, gives him both “breadth and depth” across customer and crew experiences – putting him in a strong position to take on this leadership role. 

Who are McDonald’s key partners?

• Google Cloud: Google Cloud and McDonald’s have a multi-year global partnership to power the company’s mobile apps, loyalty programmes, self-service kiosks and more.
• Capgemini: Capgemini provides engineering, deployment and support services for customer-and-crew-facing digital channels. 
• Accenture: Partnered with McDonald’s to support the adoption of edge technology and optimise restaurant operations. 
• Cognizant: Cognizant has a strategic partnership with McDonald’s to transform global enterprise systems.