McDonald's Corp. announced Monday it has named Jim Skinner as president and chief operating officer of the McDonald's Restaurant Group.

Skinner, who will be responsible for the company's more than 29,000 hamburger restaurants in 121 countries, will report directly to chairman and chief executive officer Jack M. Greenberg.

As part of the management change, Alan Feldman, who agreed last year to stay at McDonald's until it completed a U.S. reorganization, has resigned as president and chief operating officer of the Americas. The company said Feldman was pursuing other career opportunities.

McDonald's announced last year it was shedding 500 to 700 jobs and closing almost half of its regional offices as part of a reorganization aimed at reducing costs and improving customer service and sales. The cuts affect about 10 percent of its corporate work force.

Skinner, who joined McDonald's in 1971 as a restaurant manager trainee, previously was president and chief operating officer of the company's Europe, Asia/Pacific and Middle East restaurant operating groups.

"Jim Skinner has 31 years of invaluable global operations experience, and has a unique understanding of our customers and restaurants," Greenberg said.

The company said promoting Skinner emphasized the importance of a single line of leadership.  
 
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