[10] Kempczinski started his career with Procter & Gamble in brand management, and worked for four years in its soap sector division, before leaving to attend Harvard Business School (HBS).

[15] Shortly after joining the company, Kempczinski moved to create a "more professional culture" among executives and other staff, focusing on human resources.

[16] In November 2020, Kempczinski launched a new digital approach to sales mainly for drive thru, home delivery and pick up, known as "Accelerating the Arches.

[19] In 2021, Kempczincki apologized to employees and the public for private remarks he made about the gun deaths of children at McDonald's.

"[21] Chicago civic groups and the Service Employees International Union demanded Kempczinski apologize, saying "Your text message was ignorant, racist and unacceptable coming from anyone, let alone the CEO of McDonald's.

[23] In a 2022 speech addressing the Economic Club of Chicago, Kempczinski expressed concerns about the impact of crime on business in the city and encouraged public–private partnerships to enhance safety.