McDonald’s franchisees have a fast order for the fast food giant’s new CEO – get back to basics. McDonald’s on Wednesday announced that Chief Brand Officer Steve Easterbrook would replace Don Thompson as chief executive after he had held the post just two and a half years. Easterbrook, 48, turned around McDonald’s operations in the UK, where he was born, by putting the focus back on its burgers and burnishing consumer perceptions about the company, according to press reports.