Joe Erlinger

Joe Erlinger oversees operations for nearly 14,000 U.S. McDonald’s restaurants, where same-store sales have risen more than 30% during his four-year tenure. He previously led McDonald’s international and high-growth markets, managing 6,000 restaurants across Europe and Asia, and completed the company’s largest refranchising deal by transferring ownership of its China and Hong Kong restaurants to a local franchise partner. Erlinger joined McDonald’s in 2002.