McDonald’s announced the appointment of Desiree Ralls-Morrison as its general counsel and corporate secretary,

Ralls-Morrison most recently served as the general counsel and corporate secretary for the Boston Scientific Corporation for the past three years, and she previously served as general counsel of Johnson & Johnson’s consumer sector. Based at McDonald’s Chicago headquarters, Ralls-Morrison will oversee the company’s global legal operations and corporate governance.

“McDonald’s role in communities is known throughout the world, and I am proud and humbled to be joining a company with such an immense impact,” Ralls-Morrison said in a statement. “The challenges are complex, but the opportunities are significant.”

Ralls-Morrison’s work has always been rooted in helping communities thrive. She is a founding Member of The New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund in Massachusetts and she previously served as a director for The Partnership, which helps boost minority professionals in the Boston area. Ralls-Morrison was named one of the most powerful women in corporate America by Black Enterprise Magazine in 2019 and just last year, the Financial Times also named her as one of the top innovative general counsels in the nation. 

As she continues to serve on the board of directors for DICK’S Sporting Goods, Ralls-Morrison will officially take on her new role with McDonald’s on April 26. 

“Her commitment to leading with integrity, along with her work to support positive change in communities, will strengthen our efforts to bring our values to life across the business,” said McDonald’s President and CEO Chris Kempczinski in a press release.