Kathy Baird, most recently Chief Communications Officer at The Washington Post, named SVP, Chief Impact Officer for McDonald’s USA

Kathy Baird, most recently Chief Communications Officer at The Washington Post, has been named SVP, Chief Impact Officer for McDonald’s USA, effective September 30.

In this role, states a post: “Kathy will lead our U.S. Impact strategy, overseeing teams responsible for enhancing and protecting the McDonald’s brand across state and local government relations, brand and business communications and sustainability—with the sustainability team continuing to dual report into Supply Chain. She’ll serve on both the U.S. Senior Leadership Team and the Global Impact Leadership Team.

“Kathy brings more than 25 years of experience across Fortune 500 companies, government, nonprofits, media, and leading agencies. Most recently, as Chief Communications Officer at The Washington Post, Kathy modernized the communications function and led initiatives advancing community engagement. She oversaw brand marketing, live journalism, and talent development—representing the Post across major cultural and political moments, from Davos to the Pulitzer Prize. Her leadership amplified the brand across platforms and strengthened both media relationships and employee engagement.

“Prior to this, Kathy led global purpose communications at Nike, spearheading civic engagement campaigns, elevating diverse voices, and launching innovative employee storytelling platforms. Across her career, Kathy’s approach to leadership is rooted in advocacy, strategic storytelling, cultural fluency, and a deep commitment to empowerment—qualities that make her the right leader to guide McDonald’s U.S. Impact efforts forward.”