McDonald’s Sustainability and Beef Leadership Shake-Up

If you go to a restaurant with sustainability claims, often top of the list – alongside ethical and seasonal ingredient sourcing, minimising food waste and cutting single-use plastics – is reducing beef.

This is because, per unit of protein, beef has some of the highest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use and water pollution of any food.

As one of the largest food outlets in the world with more than 43,000 restaurants, McDonald’s is also an incredibly influential presence in the beef supply chain.

In 2014, the fast-food giant reported that it was going to embark on a mission for "sustainable beef” and has since regionalised sourcing – for example, all US burgers are made from North American beef and UK restaurants are supplied from Northern Ireland.

The company was also a founding member of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), and, in turn, its European arm, and maintains a presence in sustainability discussions. 

But can beef – let alone beef at such a large scale – ever be sustainable?

Is McDonald’s beef about to become more sustainable?

A recent leadership shake-up at McDonald’s sees the Chief Sustainability Officer baton pass from Beth Hart to Suheily Natal Davis. 

Suheily is moving from a role she has held for nearly two and a half years as Vice President, Global Inclusion, whereas Beth is leaving her post of two years to become Vice President, Global Category Head of Beef.

“I’m excited to share that I’m stepping into a new role at McDonald's as Vice President, Global Category Lead for Beef,” Beth said on LinkedIn. 

“As part of our Restaurant Experience team, I’ll work alongside category leaders in Chicken and Beverages/Desserts to keep raising the bar on taste, quality, consistency and innovation – building on the legacy of one of our most iconic categories. 

“It’s been a real privilege to be part of our Impact work over the past few years. I’m very proud of what we’ve built together and even more grateful for the people behind it. Our team and partners around the world have shown what’s possible when purpose and partnership come together, and that’s something I’ll always carry with me. 

“As I look ahead, I’m thrilled by the opportunity in this next chapter. I’m especially proud to pass the baton to my friend and colleague Suheily Natal Davis, who I know will continue to lead this work with purpose and passion.”

Beth Hart’s impact on sustainability at McDonald’s

As the company’s former Chief Global Sustainability & Social Impact Officer, Beth played a central role in helping guide McDonald’s toward a more integrated approach that links environmental action with commercial resilience.

A major part of that strategy has been regenerative agriculture. McDonald’s has worked with farmers to support practices that improve soil health, strengthen biodiversity and build resilience against climate volatility.

Beth’s leadership has helped position sustainability as a practical way to protect long-term supply chains and the ingredients that keep the brand moving.

That approach reflects a wider challenge for global food companies: reducing environmental impact while maintaining scale, consistency and affordability.

By backing farmers through the transition and investing in climate-smart sourcing, McDonald’s has signalled that sustainability can support both operational stability and reputation.

Suheily Natal Davis: a new era for sustainability

Suheily’s rise to McDonald’s top sustainability job reflects a career built inside the company, where legal, labour and inclusion experience eventually converged with its broader ESG agenda. 

She joined McDonald’s 12 years ago as Senior Counsel, Global Labour & Employment, and most recently served as Vice President, Global Inclusion, before being named Chief Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion Officer in June 2026.

“After more than a decade at McDonald's I’m excited to step into a new role as Chief Sustainability, Social Impact & Inclusion Officer,” Suheily said on LinkedIn.

“For decades, this work has been a hallmark of McDonald’s leadership as a responsible global brand. I’m proud to be entrusted with bringing these three areas of work together under one team as we continue to drive progress and meaningful impact across our people, our planet, and the markets and communities we serve.  

“I’m looking forward to what’s ahead and continuing to build McDonald’s legacy with such incredibly talented and passionate teams and partners across our System.”

From legal counsel to inclusion leader, her path shows how sustainability leadership is increasingly shaped by cross-functional expertise rather than a traditional environmental background alone. 

That combination of sustainability, social impact and inclusion matters for a company of McDonald’s scale, where environmental targets, workforce issues, and community expectations are tightly linked.

The modern Chief Sustainability Officer is often part strategist, part operator, and part culture-builder. Suheily’s career suggests that the route to the top can run as much through governance, employee relations, and inclusion as through climate policy alone.