McDonald’s Russia recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary, and has become the chain’s fastest growing market in Europe. Please join the Canadian Club of Toronto on May 3rd for a unique one-on-one with George Cohon, Founder, McDonald’s Canada and McDonald’s Russia and Amanda Lang, Senior Business Correspondent for CBC as they discuss McDonald’s success both here in Canada and Russia.
George Cohon moved to Toronto in 1976 as the licensee of McDonald’s Corporation for Eastern Canada. In 1971, Mr. Cohon became Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited, a position he held for more than 25 years. McDonald’s Canada now numbers over 1,400 restaurants and has sales of more than $3 billion per year and employs over 77,000 people.
Mr. Cohon spearheaded the drive to open McDonald’s in the former Soviet Union. Today there are over 229 McDonald’s restaurants in Russia and Moscow’s Pushkin Square site is the world’s busiest McDonald’s. Mr. Cohon is the author of his best-selling autobiography, “To Russia With Fries”.
Mr. Cohon has received the highest public service awards from three continents: he is an Officer of the Order of Canada for his outstanding contribution to his country; he received the Order of Ontario for his charitable endeavors and he was awarded Russia’s Order of Friendship for his active role in charitable work and the Israel Prime Minister’s Medal.
In 2009, George A. Cohon was honored by the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars of the Smithsonian Institution. He received the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, which is given to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to bolstering U.S.-Russian relations.
Mr. Cohon has played an active and prominent role in numerous charitable organizations. He is the Founder of Ronald McDonald House Charities, both in Canada and in Russia. He is a Founding Patron of Ronald McDonald Houses, and co-chairman of Toronto’s annual Santa Claus Parade, now in its 105th year. Mr. Cohon is also the Chairman of Cirque du Soleil Russia.
