McDonald's Holdings Co. (Japan) is set to name Apple Japan Inc. President Eiko Harada as its chief executive officer.
McDonald's Japan hopes Harada's achievements at the computer company will bolster business at the fast-food giant, sources said Friday.
McDonald's Japan will finalize the appointment of Harada, 55, at a board meeting Feb. 13. They said he is scheduled to start work following approval at a shareholders meeting in late March.
Harada will succeed McDonald's Japan CEO and Chairman Pat Donahue, who will keep the post of representative director. Yasuyuki Yagi will remain president and chief operating officer.
Harada has been Apple Japan's president since April 1997, after working as vice president in charge of marketing.
Despite his lack of experience in the food and restaurant industry, McDonald's Japan wanted Harada for his record of boosting the power of the Macintosh brand in the Japanese computer market.