Mark Bittman isn’t the only one joining the veggie-tech revolution: Former McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson, who logged 25 years at the burger giant before being ousted after months of sales declines, is joining the board of vegan start-up Beyond Meat, the AP reports. When he left McDonald’s, Thompson signed a two-year noncompete agreement, and in exchange, the chain retained Thompson as “a consultant,” promising him $3 million for a year of his services. McCorporate now tells the AP his new Beyond Meat gig won’t interfere with Thompson’s undefined duties under the Golden Arches, maybe because the top priority of the plant-burger industry right now (making it taste more like delicious meat) isn’t something a McDonald’s executive can help.
Beyond Meat’s CEO Ethan Brown didn’t specify what Thompson will be doing for them either, only that the they “look forward to working with Don to bring our plant-based meats to consumers here in the United States and abroad.”
[AP]
