McDonald’s new U.S. chief, Jan Fields oversees re-imagining of decor, menu
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Jan Fields took charge of McDonald’s Corp.’s U.S. business just as its sales began to slow at the start of this year. The picture has brightened recently, but the 30-year company veteran must find ways to continue boosting business in a tough fast-food market.
Ms. Fields, who began her career with McDonald’s as a restaurant crew member in 1978, will lead the company’s rollout of smoothies and frappes this year. The drinks are the next phase of McDonald’s launch of specialty drinks, its most ambitious menu innovation in three decades.
In addition, she will oversee a plan to remodel thousands of restaurants to give the burger joints more of a coffeehouse feel to complement the new drinks. Ms. Fields will have to persuade franchisees to shoulder the majority of the costs of remodeling, which could reach $1 million per restaurant.
