McDonald’s has announced a new hire to combat recent charges of bias at the company. According to The Associated Press, the fast food chain has hired a new chief diversity officer.
Reginald Miller has been hired to become McDonald’s global chief diversity equity and inclusion officer. He is slated to start on Nov. 9. Miller was previously the chief diversity officer at VF Corp., the owner of brands such as The North Face, Timberland, and Vans.
“I’m proud to be joining McDonald’s at a time where diverse voices and perspectives are not just celebrated, but engaged in accelerating meaningful change,” said Reginald J. Miller in a written statement
. “As a global brand, McDonald’s has a strong foundation of creating opportunity throughout its value chain. I’m proud to be joining at this pivotal moment where the energy, resources, and commitment to values-driven leadership is shared by all. I’m looking forward to getting to know the McDonald’s business through the lens of the people who impact it every day in countries and cultures around the world.”Miller replaces Wendy Lewis, who retired in September.
In a letter that was sent to employees at the restaurant chain from McDonald’s human resources chief Heidi Capozzi, she stated, “Reggie and I share the same goal: that in order to move forward, we must move away from the notion that the responsibility of diversity lies with one person, one department or one group.”
CNBC reported that at least 50 workers have filed separate sexual harassment charges against McDonald’s with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or in state courts over the past four years.
The fast food chain is also facing several charges of racism. Back in January, two Black McDonald’s executives sued them claiming that McDonald’s shifted advertising away from Black customers, graded white-owned stores more favorably than Black-owned stores and implemented business plans that had a discriminatory impact on Black franchisees.