Costa Coffee said McDonald had played a "pivotal role in setting up the business for future success" | Photo credit: Costa Coffee

Jill McDonald is to step down as CEO of Costa Coffee at the end of July 2022 to join US fast-food chain McDonald’s as Executive Vice President and President of International Operated Markets. 
 

McDonald joined UK-based Costa Coffee as CEO in November 2019, a year after it was acquired by US beverage giant Coca-Cola. In a statement, the coffee chain praised McDonald’s leadership during the pandemic and said her successor would be named shortly.  

“Jill joined Costa in 2019 and has played a pivotal role in setting up the business for future success. She was instrumental in helping Costa navigate the pandemic, helping Costa emerge safely and stronger. Her influence on Costa will be felt for many years to come and we wish her all the best,” said Jennifer Mann, Senior Vice President and President of Global Ventures, The Coca-Cola Company. 

In April 2022, Coca-Cola said the recovery of its Costa Coffee business in the UK had contributed to a 28% rise in revenues for its Global Ventures division, which manages the coffee chain. 

Costa Coffee is Europe’s largest coffee chain, operating nearly 2,800 coffee shops in the UK and Ireland, and over 1,100 globally. It also operates more than 12,000 Costa Express self-serve units in the UK.