Global Intelligence and Executive Protection at McDonald’s
For McDonald’s, the intelligence function serves as a trusted advisor and business partner to the organization. What started as a one-person executive protection team has grown into a fully integrated department of hybrid expertise backed by enthusiastic executive support.
How did it happen? Former military-turned-private-sector intelligence champion Ryan Long saw the business opportunity in a robust intelligence and protection function. Now as Head of Global Intelligence and Protection for McDonald’s, Ryan built success on a foundation of internal relationships and alignment.
In this episode, Ryan breaks down:
- How to tailor intelligence for decision-makers to gain buy-in
- How to build internal credibility and identify champions for your initiatives
- Tips for transitioning from the public to the private sector
- The future of the intelligence profession and associations like AIRIP
The Employee Safety Podcast is hosted by Peter Steinfeld, SVP of Safety Solutions at AlertMedia.
You can find this interview and many more by following The Employee Safety Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or subscribing here.

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