Simon Kenny

Head of Impact and Communications, McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Ltd

Simon started with McDonald’s in 2011 as National Communications Manager. Over the last 12 years the scope of his role has grown and he is now Head of Impact and Communications, and a member of the McDonald’s New Zealand country management team.

He has responsibility for all aspects of McDonald’s external and internal communications in New Zealand, and also oversees McDonald’s social media, sponsorships and customer services. As the market lead for the McDonald’s global impact pillars, Simon supports the New Zealand business and franchisees to deliver on commitments around: food quality and sourcing; our planet; jobs, inclusion and empowerment; and, community connection.

Simon is currently the chairperson for the Association of New Zealand Advertisers, and leads in house and agencies teams that have won numerous industry awards, including the PRINZ Supreme Award in 2016. Simon also featured in the New Zealand Herald’s ‘PR power list’ in 2023.

Simon joined McDonald’s from New Zealand sportswear brand Orca, where he was Marketing Manager for four years, looking after the brand’s global marketing and communications activities. Prior to this, Simon was an Account Director at public relations consultancy Network PR, primarily working for corporate clients.

Simon has also spent time in Londonworking in the communications team for one of the world’s largest asset managers - Barclays Global Investors, and in marketing and communications roles at European Motor Distributors, the New Zealand importer of Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche. Simon has Bachelor of Communications Studies from AUT.