McDonald’s upheaval is a stern reminder to CEOs about ethics

As CEO, Steve Easterbrook was the embodiment of the McDonald’s corporation to stakeholders and the most potent role model for its values. Until he wasn’t.

Image: Mike Kuhlman/Shutterstock
The board of directors of McDonald’s recently announced it was terminating the employment of CEO Steve Easterbrook because he “demonstrated poor judgment” involving a consensual relationship with another company employee.
The process followed by the board in arriving at their decision appears impeccable. Once made aware of the situation by their general counsel, a highly reputable outside law firm was retained to investigate.
Following a three-week investigation, the board held what are described as “lengthy discussions a
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