On February 4, 2026, McDonald’s Corporation expanded its Board of Directors from 11 to 12 members and elected James D. Farley, Jr., President and CEO of Ford Motor Company, as a new independent director. Farley will receive standard non-employee director compensation, and his appointment reflects the Board’s ongoing succession planning and emphasis on bringing in leaders with diverse, transformation-focused experience.

 

Farley’s election, announced publicly on February 10, 2026, adds more than three decades of global leadership and brand transformation expertise to McDonald’s governance. His background in digital innovation, customer-centric design, and large-scale operational modernization is expected to support McDonald’s efforts to modernize its systems and sustain growth, while the fact that half of the directors have joined since 2022 underscores the company’s push toward future-ready governance and strategic refreshment.