CHICAGO — McDonald’s US comms leader Sandy Rodriguez will serve as the fast food giant’s new global chief communications officer, succeeding Michael Gonda, who has been promoted chief impact officer, North America.

Rodriguez has been with McDonald’s since May 2022, when she joined the chain as VP of US communications from Roche Diagnostics. In that role, Rodriguez has had direct oversight of the US communications team, serve as a member of the US SLT, the global impact leadership team, and the communications leadership team.

Her responsibilities have included driving McDonald’s USA’s reputation and brand trust strategy. She will also has led the brand’s effort to foster local connections and be the point person for local and national community programs.

Gonda, one of PRovoke Media’s Influence 100, meantime, will now serve as senior VP and chief impact officer for North America. According to McDonald’s, Gonda will be responsible for driving the holistic impact strategy across communications, state and local government relations, sustainability & ESG, and philanthropy in the US and Canada.

Gonda’s cross-functional team will proactively engage stakeholders and communities to enhance the McDonald’s brand and more efficiently and effectively partner with global and other markets, McDonald’s said.

Assuming the new position is the latest upward move Gonda has made since leaving Chobani to take on the role of McDonald’s VP of global communications in 2019.

In early 2021, Gonda, was promoted to CCO, part of a larger corporate restructuring that made the fast food giant’s comms function one of four new 'Global Impact Centers of Excellence.' He was the chain’s first CCO since the departure of Robert Gibbs in September 2019.

In the centralized role, Gonda has been responsible for ensuring a consistent voice, driving authentic content to better connect our positive impact with consumers to drive brand trust, and assuring communication readiness for all issues that impact McDonald’s.