Arcos Dorados, the largest independent McDonald’s franchise in Latin America, has announced a leadership transition with the appointment of Luis Raganato as CEO.
Raganato, who has served as the company’s current chief operating officer (COO) since July 2019, will assume the role from 1 July 2025, succeeding Marcelo Rabach.
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Rabach will continue to serve on the board of directors after stepping down from his executive position.
Arcos Dorados executive chairman of the board Woods Staton said: “Luis began his career with us in 1991, as a crew member in one of our restaurants in Córdoba, Argentina. By the time we appointed him COO in 2019, he had established a successful track record at every level of our operation. It did not take long for Luis to again prove his leadership abilities, as he played an instrumental role in guiding Arcos Dorados through the global pandemic of 2020. Coming out of that challenging period, he worked with the ADvance digital team to further the digitalisation of the operation, which was a key driver of the record financial results of the last several years.”
Raganato’s journey with Arcos Dorados began in 1991 as a trainee in Argentina. Over the years, he has climbed the ranks, holding various operational management roles, including divisional president for the Caribbean and managing director in Peru.
Carlos Gonzalez, current president of the South Latin American division, is set to replace Raganato as COO.
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By GlobalDataBefore joining McDonald’s Chile in 2000, Gonzalez worked in the financial and automotive industries.
His career at McDonald’s has been marked by a series of operational and leadership roles, culminating in his position as managing director for Chile. Gonzalez’s educational background includes a degree in public administration and a Master’s in business management.
Arcos Dorados has the exclusive right to own, operate and grant McDonald’s franchises in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories with more than 2,400 restaurants.
In January 2025, Arcos Dorados renewed its master franchise agreement with McDonald’s.
