Bloomberg reports on an ongoing investigation into McDonald’s former Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook. The company is looking into whether he covered up improprieties by other McDonald’s employees.
The board is working with outside counsel to investigate an allegation the ousted CEO may have helped conceal other employees’ behavior, said a McDonald’s executive, who isn’t authorised to speak publicly. It’s also looking more broadly into the company’s human resources department, the executive said. Easterbrook’s attorney didn’t reply to requests for comment.
Easterbrook was fired in November over a consensual relationship with an employee, but the company received a tip months later that he had been involved in multiple affairs with workers. After concluding Easterbrook had lied and concealed evidence in the initial investigation, the fast-food giant sued to claw back his severance. He has denied the claims, contending McDonald’s had the information about his relationships with employees when it negotiated his separation agreement. The board has continued to investigate the matter in the meantime.
