McDonald’s names new managing director

Kate Southam, Editor

Turning 14 and 9 months was arguably Catriona Noble’s most important birthday.

“It was more important to me than turning 15 because it meant I could work at McDonald’s like my friends,” says Ms Noble, the newly appointed Managing Director of McDonald’s Australia.

That casual school job turned into a stellar career of more than 20 years including being appointed Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board in 2007.

“Back when I first joined I had no real plan except just earning some money for clothes and going out while I was at school,” she says.

Ms Noble’s first boss at McDonald’s ““ a franchise owner ““ spotted her talent early on. He created salary arrangement on a pro rata basis that allowed her to come and go to accommodate study, back packing and then university while also giving her access to promotions and responsibility.

“There was no reason for me to leave and find another job. I was learning management and leadership skills in addition to what I learnt at uni,” Ms Noble recalls.

“I had to work hard. I had a part time manager’s role and was studying business at UTS majoring in marketing.”

Ms Noble transferred to Macquarie University to study economics and law and suddenly had an epiphany.

“I was at uni thinking, “˜what am I going to do when I finish?’ I knew I really wanted to be in business. I actually had a job that I loved and was doing well in. I remember ringing my parents, who had paid my uni fees, to tell them I wanted to leave uni.

“My father said, “˜explain to me why you want to [give up university]?’ I explained my thinking and he said, “˜well you have thought it through so go for it.’ They were really supportive.”

“I was still only 18 or 19 but I remember thinking “˜I could be the managing director of this business. That could be really cool.’ I didn’t know how I would get there but I really believed it was something I could do.

When the franchisee sold his restaurant back to McDonald’s, Ms Nobel became an employee of the company and also negotiated to take on the role of restaurant manager. She figured she had already been a first assistant and second assistant restaurant manager so why not speak up?

“I was not afraid to politely communicate the facts, which were that I meet the requirements and so I moved into restaurant manager at 19. I think Guy Russo [a previous McDonald’s CEO] became a restaurant manager at 19 as well,” she says.

Because the restaurant was at Thornleigh in Sydney’s far North, Ms Noble gained exposure to McDonald’s corporate head quarters based in the same suburb. Key decision makers who encouraged Ms Noble included McDonald’s legends such as the late Charlie Bell, an Australian who became global CEO of McDonalds at just 42 as well as Guy Russo, who as CEO from 1999 introduced changes that allowed more talented women to be identified and promoted. [Also read Ms Noble’s take on women in management in Women at Work].

“Guy [Russo] was a real mentor for me, even from that time when I was a restaurant manger. Charlie Bell was a wonderful mentor too ““ a guy full of energy, full of passion. Larger than life and very inspirational. He was a very visible, active leader.”

Ms Noble also had the opportunity to learn alongside Peter Bush ““ “the architect of healthy choices” range at McDonald’s.

“Bushy was very embracing of me and let me be part of the team and that is where I learnt the value of adapting to change.

“Now I need to lead change “¦ I have to be an architect of change. One of the most important skills business leaders need today is change management skills, not just to lead change but to embrace it and initiate it.”

Ms Noble says introducing change is particularly hard in the good times. McDonald’s has been “going unbelievably well, we almost have to pinch ourselves”, she says adding that most of the franchisees have been with the organisation for 15 to 20 years and used to doing things the way they have always done them.

“Leadership is something you never stop learning. Marketing skills or finance skills are very tangible but when you talk about leadership you never end.

“Now I feel I will have to make another quantum leap ““ that I am going to have to be better. You have to embrace the fact that you have to get better.”

Ms Noble’s appointment as Managing Director of McDonald’s Australia is effective from November 1, 2008. She will continue to report through to Peter Bush, CEO for McDonald’s Australia and Divisional President for Pacific & Africa.