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McDonald’s looks into human resources department in CEO probe

McDonald’s has expanded its investigation into its former CEO’s possible misconduct. The company’s board of directors has hired an outside law firm as part of a probe into its human resources office to determine if Steve Easterbrook, who exited abruptly in November, covered up misconduct for others in that department.

Easterbrook was named McDonald’s CEO in 2015. He is widely credited with turning the company around, emphasizing technological innovation and striking deals with delivery companies like GrubHub. He pushed through acquisitions of artificial intelligence companies that some analysts have praised for reducing customer wait times and lower labor costs. Notably, McDonald’s stock price more than doubled during Easterbrook’s time at the helm.

McDonald’s named Heidi Capozzi, who had worked for Boeing, as human resources chief in March. Capozzi is conducting a review of the department, including how performance is evaluated and how employee concerns are raised and investigated.