McDonald’s names Valerie Ashbaugh U.S. Chief Information Officer, succeeding Whitney McGinnis

USA – McDonald’s has announced that Valerie Ashbaugh has been appointed as the new Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President for McDonald’s USA, effective August 1, 2025.

This leadership transition will see Ashbaugh succeed Whitney McGinnis, who will move into the role of Senior Vice President, Commercial Products & Platforms, the position currently held by Ashbaugh.

This strategic role exchange is designed to broaden both executives’ leadership impact and deepen their experience across McDonald’s global technology landscape.

Ashbaugh, who joined McDonald’s in 2021, has quickly established herself as a transformative leader, previously serving as Senior Vice President of Global Engineering and Operations.

In that capacity, she led the standardization of consumer and restaurant platforms, rolled out new capabilities such as loyalty programs and “Ready on Arrival,” expanded ordering channels, and delivered the company’s most stable point-of-sale system, Sesame.

Ashbaugh also spearheaded the integration of artificial intelligence solutions now in rapid prototyping and testing, and played a key role in building high-performing engineering teams in Mexico and India.

With a career spanning industries from retail and athletic fashion to aerospace and high-tech, Ashbaugh is recognized for her authentic leadership style and ability to drive operational excellence through digital transformation.

In her new role, she will oversee technology strategy and execution for nearly 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants across the United States, leveraging her global expertise to accelerate innovation and enhance both customer and crew experiences.

Whitney McGinnis, who has been with McDonald’s since 2004 and served as U.S. CIO since 2021, will now return to her roots in product development and engineering as Senior Vice President, Commercial Products & Platforms.

During her tenure as CIO, McGinnis led the deployment of integrated technology solutions across the U.S. restaurant system, including advancements in point-of-sale, kiosks, digital menu boards, mobile ordering, and back-office applications.

Her close collaboration with franchisees and focus on modernization have been instrumental in enhancing both operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.

The appointments underscore McDonald’s ongoing investment in digital transformation and leadership development, positioning the company to continue delivering innovative solutions and exceptional experiences for customers and employees nationwide.

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