Faculty & Research
Steve Russell
Chief People Officer
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
McDonald's USA, LLC
Steve Russell is the Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President of McDonald’s USA.
In this role, Russell oversees all aspects of Human Resources and Training Learning and Development for McDonald’s USA. He is responsible for developing and implementing breakthrough HR and Training strategies for McDonald’s U.S. business. This includes improving talent through better identification, selection and training of employees of McDonald’s U.S. headquarters and the company’s regional and divisional employees as well as providing recommendations and assistance to more than 2,200 franchisees and over 13,000 restaurants.
In his more than 10 year career with McDonald’s, Russell has earned recognition as a dynamic motivator and people champion. Russell is committed to providing opportunities, development and career enhancement at all levels within the organization and his attentiveness and commitment to employees’ needs has helped improve employee commitment and reduce turnover in the more than 2,000 plus company-owned McDonald’s restaurants nationwide and earned McDonald’s industry recognition as one of the Best Companies to Work for.
With more than 20 years experience in business and Human Resources, Russell joined McDonald’s in 1996 in the Human Resource Department as Director of Corporate Human Resources. Since then, he has held a number of positions during his career.
Most recently, Russell served as Vice President of Human Resources for McDonald’s Business Development and Partner Brands (Boston Market, Chipotle Mexican Grill) from 2002 – 2003. Prior to that role, Russell was Vice President of Global Human Resources for McDonald’s Innovative Initiative and served as Senior Director of the Human Resources Design Center.
Russell became the Department Director of the HR Service Center and Global Technology Departments in 1998 while also beginning his accelerated development program in McDonald’s Field Human Resources. In 1999, while managing his responsibilities in the HR Service Center and technology groups, Russell worked as a Human Resources Consultant in the Milwaukee Region and as Human Resources Director in the former Midwest Division.
Born in Highland Park, Illinois, Russell received his Bachelor of Arts from Ohio State University and M.B.A. from the University of Dayton.