McDonald's top US executive is leaving

Business Insider/Hayley Peterson

McDonald's USA President Mike Andres is retiring at the end of the year, the company announced on Wednesday.

Andres will be replaced by Chris Kempczinski, executive vice president of strategy, business development, and innovation, effective January 1, 2017.

Andres has worked for McDonald's for more than 30 years. He was appointed head of US operations in 2014.

Over the last couple of years, Andres oversaw some of the brand's biggest changes in the US in decades, including the introduction of all-day breakfast and replacing margarine with butter on Egg McMuffins.

"With the strides we have made in the US business this is the right time for me to retire," Andres said in a statement.

CEO Steve Easterbrook said that Kempczinski would bring a "new level of convenience and excitement to the restaurant experience."

"His proven track record of driving change is invaluable as we continue to transform McDonald's into a modern, progressive burger company," Easterbrook said.

Before joining McDonald's last year, Kempczinski served as executive vice president of growth initiatives and president of international at Kraft Foods Group.

"I look forward to building upon the significant progress in the U.S., and continuing the innovation and collaboration among our owner-operators, suppliers and employees to take McDonald's to the next level," Kempczinski said.

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