Michael Gonda | Influence 100

Michael Gonda 

VP Global Comms 
McDonald’s
US

 

 

McDonald’s chief communications officer Robert Gibbs stepped down amid the company’s restructuring last fall. Gibbs, a former Obama aide and White House press secretary, was tasked with bringing an outside perspective to help the company transition to a modern, progressive burger joint.

Upon Gibbs’ departure, then CEO Steve Easterbrook divided the top job between two communications leaders: Michael Gonda and Dave Tovar. Shortly after, however, Easterbrook was fired for violating corporate policies on personal conduct. (McDonald’s is currently suing Easterbrook to recover his severance and compensation package.)

Meanwhile, Michael Gonda, who left his role as Chobani’s senior VP of corporate affairs to join McDonald’s as its first VP of global comms in 2019, assumed oversight for the chain’s IOM  (international operated markets) and IDL (international developmental licensed markets) corporate relations teams, as well as global policy and engagement. (Tovar is VP of US communications and US government relations.)