Fired McDonald’s CEO resigns from NGO promoting workplace equality
- The McDonald’s CEO fired over an office romance has removed himself as director of a nonprofit supporting women in the workplace.
- Lorraine Hariton, the CEO of Catalyst, told Business Insider Steve Easterbrook’s resignation on Tuesday “was the right thing to do.”
- “Ensuring a workplace where everyone can thrive requires a long-term, intentional commitment from those in leadership — especially CEOs,” Hariton added.
- Easterbook resigned from the board of Walmart on Monday, but he will remain a fellow of Oxford’s Centre for Corporate Reputation, the university said.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The McDonald’s CEO fired over a relationship with a subordinate has resigned as director of a nonprofit backing equality in the workplace.
Catalyst told Business Insider Steve Easterbrook quit on Tuesday following Sunday’s news of his departure from McDonald’s.
“We believe the decision to remove him as CEO and from the board was the right thing to do and represents the company’s ongoing commitment to building respectful, safe, and inclusive workplaces,” Catalyst CEO Lorraine Hariton said.
“Ensuring a workplace where everyone can thrive requires a long-term, intentional commitment from those in leadership — especially CEOs.”
Catalyst partners with more than 800 companies with the goal of accelerating progress for women in the workplace.
Easterbrook’s departure from McDonald’s will not affect his position as a fellow at the University of Oxford’s Centre for Corporate Reputation, the center told Business Insider on Tuesday.
Easterbook resigned from the board of Walmart on Monday.
Easterbrook’s departure from McDonald’s has sparked debate over the acceptability of relationships between staff inside companies.
Critics argue that men or women in senior positions wield power over subordinates that throws the “consensual” nature of the relationship into question.
The identity, age, or seniority of the person involved with Easterbrook is unclear.
Easterbrook earned $15.9 million in his role as McDonald’s CEO in 2018, and he is set to receive at least half a year’s wages in severance pay. According to company documents filed Monday, Easterbrook is entitled to 26 weeks of severance pay, worth about $675,000.