Robert Gibbs, the former White House press secretary who left Barack Obama's administration in 2011, is now working at McDonald's—but he's not there to flip burgers or offer customers fries to go with their meal.
The fast-food company hired Gibbs to be its global chief communications officer, who will try to make McDonald's a "more modern and progressive burger company," according to a Tuesday press release.
Gibbs' job will involve managing communications, both internal and external, including government and public affairs concerns. "He will lead McDonald's in communicating clear, coordinated messages to internal and external constituencies, enhancing the brand and supporting corporate strategies," the press release stated.
Gibbs replaced Bridget Coffing, who retired from the company after 30 years.
A source, however, divulged that Gibbs' hiring may also involve crushing the franchise bill currently being circulated in Capitol Hill, according to the New York Post. If passed, the bill will make it harder for a franchiser, such as McDonald's, to terminate contracts with its franchisees.
About 90 percent of McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. alone are owned through franchise, and there is an existing conflict between the company and its franchisees, the report further said.
Meanwhile, sales of McDonald's in America have fallen, and its stock prices are trailing behind Chipotle and Panera, according to CNN Money.
In May, the company's CEO, Steve Eastbrook, who acknowledged that McDonald's is indeed performing poorly, announced its restructuring plans in the hopes of saving $300 million of its annual expenses.
In addition to Gibbs, McDonald's also hired a new chief marketing officer, Silvia Lagnado. She was recently acknowledged as one of the "Most Influential Women in Advertising" by Ad Age magazine.
