This comes after long-time Global Chief Diversity Officer Pat Harris is set to retire at the end of the year following 40 years of service with the brand.

“Pat has truly been a trailblazer for McDonald’s. No one has helped get us closer to our goals for creating a diverse and inclusive brand than she has,” says McDonald’s Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer David Fairhurst. “We thank Pat for four decades of outstanding service, and congratulate her on a well-deserved retirement.”

Under Harris’ leadership McDonald’s has been widely recognized for its commitment to diversity, including winning the coveted Catalyst Award for its global women’s initiative; achieving a score of 100 in the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index; being named in Fortune magazine’s Top 50 Places for Minorities to Work; Black Enterprise magazine’s Top 40 Companies for Diversity; and Latina Style magazine’s Best Companies for Latinas.

“We know Wendy will build upon McDonald’s rich history of diversity and inclusion, and ensure we leverage this advantage to fuel our growth and innovation,” Fairhurst adds.

As global chief diversity officer, Lewis will oversee the development and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies and community engagement for Oak Brook, IL-based McDonald’s and its restaurants around the globe. In the months ahead she and Harris are working together toward a seamless transition.

At New York, NY-based MLB Lewis developed new initiatives to advance the level of the organization’s workforce and supplier diversity efforts and industry-wide diversity training. She oversaw MLB’s Executive Development Program and The Diverse Business Partners Program, the premier supplier diversity program in sports. Since its formation, more than $1 billion has been spent with thousands of minority-owned and women-owned businesses.

Lewis was also responsible for the creation of MLB’s “game changing” Diversity Business Summit, the premier employment conference and supplier diversity trade fair.