McDonald's Reshuffles C-Suite Amid Sustainability Plans

McDonald's operates more than 43,000 restaurants worldwide. This scale makes the company one of the most influential buyers in the beef supply chain. The fast food chain announced in 2014 it would pursue sustainable beef sourcing and has since regionalised its supply networks. All US burgers now come from North American beef and UK restaurants source from Northern Ireland.

The company helped found the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and its European arm. It maintains involvement in sustainability discussions across the industry.

Leadership changes at McDonald's

McDonald's has moved Beth Hart from Chief Sustainability Officer to Vice President, Global Category Head of Beef. Suheily Natal Davis will take over the sustainability role after nearly two-and-a-half years as Vice President, Global Inclusion.

"I'm excited to share that I'm stepping into a new role at McDonald's as Vice President, Global Category Lead for Beef," Beth says on LinkedIn.

"As part of our Restaurant Experience team, I'll work alongside category leaders in Chicken and Beverages/Desserts to keep raising the bar on taste, quality, consistency and innovation – building on the legacy of one of our most iconic categories."

Beth spent two years as Chief Sustainability Officer. Her new position focuses on one of McDonald's core product categories and could signal a more direct link between sustainability work and commercial operations.

"It's been a real privilege to be part of our Impact work over the past few years. I'm very proud of what we've built together and even more grateful for the people behind it. Our team and partners around the world have shown what's possible when purpose and partnership come together and that's something I'll always carry with me," Beth says.

Beth Hart's commercial sustainability approach

Beth served as Chief Global Sustainability & Social Impact Officer before her move to the beef category. Her work connected environmental action with supply chain resilience and commercial stability.

McDonald's has worked with farmers on regenerative agriculture practices. These methods aim to improve soil health and strengthen biodiversity. The approach could help protect long-term supply chains against climate volatility.

The company has backed farmers through transitions to climate-smart sourcing. This strategy reflects how global food companies balance environmental impact reduction with scale and affordability requirements.

Beth's move to lead the beef category could show how sustainability knowledge applies to product development and category management. The appointment combines environmental expertise with direct responsibility for one of McDonald's highest volume product lines.

"As I look ahead, I'm thrilled by the opportunity in this next chapter. I'm especially proud to pass the baton to my friend and colleague Suheily Natal Davis, who I know will continue to lead this work with purpose and passion," Beth says.

Suheily Natal Davis brings cross-functional experience

Suheily joined McDonald's 12 years ago as Senior Counsel, Global Labour & Employment. She moved to Vice President, Global Inclusion before being named Chief Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion Officer in June 2026.

"After more than a decade at McDonald's I'm excited to step into a new role as Chief Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion Officer," Suheily says on LinkedIn.

"For decades, this work has been a hallmark of McDonald's leadership as a responsible global brand. I'm proud to be entrusted with bringing these three areas of work together under one team as we continue to drive progress and meaningful impact across our people, our planet and the markets and communities we serve."

Her background spans legal counsel, labour relations and inclusion work. This combination could mean sustainability leadership increasingly requires expertise across governance, workforce strategy and environmental policy rather than environmental backgrounds alone.

McDonald's has consolidated sustainability, social impact and inclusion under one leadership role. This structure connects environmental targets with workforce issues and community expectations across the company's operations.

"I'm looking forward to what's ahead and continuing to build McDonald's legacy with such incredibly talented and passionate teams and partners across our System," Suheily says.

Supply chain scale matters

Beef production carries higher greenhouse gas emissions, land use and water pollution per unit of protein compared to many other foods. McDonald's position as one of the largest food outlets globally means its sourcing decisions could influence supplier practices across the beef industry.

The company's regionalised sourcing model keeps supply chains closer to restaurant locations. This approach could reduce transportation costs and emissions while supporting local agricultural economies.

McDonald's participation in industry sustainability bodies could shape standards that affect how other buyers approach beef sourcing. The company's size means changes to its supply chain requirements could affect farming practices across multiple regions.