McDonald's Japan names HK native Thomas Ko as new president

McDonald’s Japan has appointed a Hong Kong native Thomas Ko (pictured) as incoming representative director, president and CEO of the company, effective from 1 July 2024.

Currently, Ko serves as the head of McDonald's Asia business unit and oversees over 3,500 restaurants across 12 markets in the region. He will take on the role of president following a shareholders meeting on 14 June. 

Ko first joined McDonald's in 2010 as strategy and insights director of APMEA region. He was then promoted to the position of high growth markets segment CFO of McDonald's Corporation. In 2018, he helmed the role of managing director of McDonald's Portugal.

This comes after McDonald's Japan's former chairwoman Sarah Casanova stepped down from her role and wrapped up more than a decade of her leadership in the company in March. 

According to a statement from McDonald's Japan, due to personal reasons, Casanova resigned from the positions of representative director and chairperson of the board and director at the conclusion of the company's 22nd annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled for 26 March 2024.

According to the local news, Ko’s new position came as a part of an executive reshuffle of the fast-food chain giant in Japan following the departure of Casanova in March, who wished to spend more time with her family. Ko will replace Tamotsu Hiiro, who will become chairperson of the McDonald's group in Japan, according to Nikkei Asia.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to McDonald's Japan for more information. 

In the first quarter of 2024, the company's systemwide sales reached HK$10bn (204.1 billion yen), up HK$0.8bn (15.8 billion yen) year-on-year, due to the investments in restaurants, people and IT based on the medium-term management plan, and marketing activities.

In addition to the increase in sales, operating income increased HK$0.1bn) 2.8 billion yen to HK$0.6bn (11.2 billion yen) due to a relative easing of raw material costs in the first quarter, which had soared in the same period of the previous year.

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