McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski is hinting that his time at the golden arches may just be getting started — again.
The longtime executive marked a major career milestone last week, celebrating ten years with McDonald’s. In a video message posted to Instagram, he reflected on the journey that brought him to the top of the fast-food empire, while also making a bold tease about what comes next.
“Ten years at McDonald’s. Here’s to another ten,” Kempczinski said in the post, raising eyebrows about whether he plans to lead the company through another decade of transformation.
The video didn’t stop there. In a follow-up post, Kempczinski spoke about the twists and turns of his own professional journey, while asking followers to share theirs. “Career paths often come with unexpected twists,” he said. “I’ve faced a few in my journey, but they’ve always paid off in some way or another.”
For McDonald’s, his journey began in 2015 when he joined as executive vice president for strategy, business development, and innovation. In that role, he worked with franchisees and business leaders to help drive growth across the system. Before that, his career included positions at Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Kraft Foods, where he oversaw global initiatives and international business.
By 2017, Kempczinski was serving as president of McDonald’s USA, overseeing operations at approximately 14,000 restaurants nationwide. Two years later, he would be thrust into the top job under difficult circumstances. In November 2019, McDonald’s board abruptly removed then-CEO Steve Easterbrook over a violation of company policy. Kempczinski, seen as a steady hand with a strong grasp on the business, was chosen to step in.
Since then, he has led the company through major challenges and sweeping changes, including the pandemic’s impact on the restaurant industry. His leadership has been tied to McDonald’s long-term strategy, “Accelerating the Arches,” which focuses on digital innovation, delivery growth, and core menu favorites.
The Instagram posts gave little detail about what his next ten years might look like. But they sparked curiosity about how McDonald’s could evolve under his leadership. His mention of “unexpected twists” hinted at both the challenges and opportunities that could lie ahead in a fast-changing industry.
The message also comes at a time when McDonald’s, like other major food chains, faces rising costs, shifting consumer habits, and competition from both traditional rivals and newer digital-first delivery models. For many, the question is not whether the company will adapt, but how quickly and in what direction.
I’m seeing a lot of changes from @McDonalds that I would be making as CEO. Chris Kempczinski is doing the right things. https://t.co/dQ6HSnYq4J
— Tom Gibson (@TheTomGibson) August 22, 2025
Kempczinski’s willingness to publicly discuss his own career journey added a personal layer to the announcement. It was less a formal corporate statement and more a conversation starter, with the CEO directly inviting people to share the unexpected turns in their own lives.
What remains to be seen is whether Kempczinski’s future at McDonald’s will match his prediction. Leading the company for another decade would make him one of the longest-serving chief executives in its history.
For now, his post served as both a celebration and a tease — leaving employees, investors, and customers wondering what the next ten years at the golden arches might bring.
