Ed Rensi

Ed Rensi is the retired president and CEO of McDonald’s USA. He currently serves as an executive consultant to McDonald’s Restaurant Systems and has been a member of McDonald’s Board of Directors since 1982. Rensi also held the position of interim CEO of Famous Dave's BBQ, where his strategic insights were pivotal in rejuvenating the brand, emphasizing customer engagement and loyalty.

As president and chief executive officer, his responsibilities included overseeing all domestic company-owned and franchise operations, providing direction relative to sales, profits, operations and service standards, customer satisfaction, product development, personnel, and training. Rensi managed McDonald’s USA, which consisted of eight geographic zones and 40 regional offices.

During his tenure, McDonald’s experienced significant growth. U.S. sales doubled to more than $16 billion, the number of U.S. restaurants increased from nearly 6,600 to more than 12,000, and the number of franchisees grew from 1,600 to more than 2,700. Rensi was instrumental in the development of McDonald’s breakfast menu and the launch of Chicken McNuggets in 1983, as well as expanding the drive-thru concept which significantly enhanced service efficiency.

While working in McDonald's Philadelphia region in the 1970s, Rensi played a key role in developing the first Ronald McDonald House, now a global network of 165 houses. He is a member of the International Advisory Board for the Ronald McDonald House Program and previously served as its chairman.

In 1988, Rensi received the distinguished President's Volunteer Award from President Ronald Reagan. His advocacy extends to disability rights, having lobbied for the Americans with Disabilities Act and spoken on the President's Council on Employing the Disabled. He has also been a strong supporter of Hispanic causes, serving as chairman of the National Hispanic Corporate Council Institute.

Rensi’s leadership extends beyond McDonald’s as he serves on the boards of directors for Snap On Tools, Ronald McDonald House Charities, The National Italian American Foundation, and the International Speedway Corporation. He is also an avid motorsport enthusiast and has contributed to the success of Team Rensi Motorsports in NASCAR.

A graduate holding a BS in Business Education from Ohio State University, Ed Rensi and his wife, Anne, have one daughter and reside in suburban Chicago, Illinois. Rensi’s capacity to motivate and lead, drawn from his extensive business experience, makes him a sought-after keynote speaker on topics such as leadership and motivation.