Jim Johannesen

Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's USA, LLC.

Jim Johannesen is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, McDonald's USA, LLC. In this role, Mr. Johannesen will oversee operations for nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the United States. 

Previously, Jim Johannesen was President of McDonald’s USA's Central Division. He was responsible for more than 4,400 McDonald’s restaurants, covering seven geographic regions in the central United States. He played a key role in interfacing with executive and regional management as well as restaurant owner/operators, suppliers and staff. 

Prior to that role, Johannesen was Senior Vice President and Chief Support Officer, McDonald’s USA. In this role he oversaw several departments including Real Estate and Construction, Franchising, Franchise Relations, Ombudsman, Diversity Initiatives, U.S. Communications, Wal-Mart Alliance, Strategy and Special Venues, and was also involved in McDonald’s U.S. Legal Function. 

Since he joined the company, Johannesen’s career has spanned a variety of disciplines. Prior to joining the U.S. leadership team, he served as Vice President, General Manager of the Chicago Region. In November 1997, Johannesen entered the executive training program in preparation for his role as Regional Vice President in Phoenix. 

Early on in his career at McDonald’s, Johannesen worked as an attorney in the corporate legal group. From there he went on to serve the U.S. system as Director of Business Affairs, Director of Equipment Purchasing and then to U.S. development, where he worked as an officer on all aspects of non-traditional restaurant development. 

Johannesen is also active in the community. He is a member of the McDonald’s Political Action Committee (PAC) and a member of the corporate board of advisors for the National Council La Raza (NCLR). In addition, he is on the board of directors and serves as chairman of the finance committee for the Asian and Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF). 

Johannesen graduated with a bachelor's degree in Business from Western Illinois University and a J.D. Degree from the Law School at the University of Illinois. 

Johannesen joined McDonald's Corporation in 1979. He and his wife Barbara have six children.