Ayuyu Jr. now VP of McDonald’s of Guam & Saipan

Ayuyu Jr.

McDonald’s of Guam & Saipan owner/operators Jose and Marcia Ayuyu are pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Ayuyu Jr. to vice president for the McDonald’s of Guam and Saipan restaurants effective July 1, 2020.

“We’re happy to announce Joe Jr.’s promotion. This transition marks a pivotal time in our organization and sets a solid foundation for the continuation of our business into the future. For me, succession planning is key to the sustainable growth of our company. We are confident, excited and look forward to Joe Jr.’s leadership and vision for McDonald’s,” said Jose Ayuyu.

Joe Jr. is no stranger to the restaurant business. His parents, Jose and Marcia, opened their first McDonald’s restaurant on Saipan in March 1993, when he was just 2 years old. For 27 years, he grew up learning different facets of the business. In 2014, Joe Jr. graduated from Miami University in Ohio and returned to Saipan to begin his career with McDonald’s. He learned the operations from the bottom up and was eventually promoted as general manager for McDonald’s Middle Road, running the day-to-day operations and leading a team of 50 employees. After his general manager role, Joe served as area supervisor for the two McDonald’s restaurants on Saipan.

In 2016, Joe Jr. attended and graduated from McDonald’s Hamburger University in Chicago, Illinois. In August 2019, he was promoted to supervisor for the newly-built McDonald’s of Yigo restaurant on the island of Guam. The restaurant offers customers an “experience of the future,” complete with a modern look, the latest technology and new conveniences for customers.

In his years with McDonald’s, Joe Jr. has played an instrumental role in implementing new ideas to bring the restaurants to the forefront of modernization. Today, he joins his parents and his sisters Mable and Ashley in running their family company. “The restaurant business is always changing and we’ve positioned ourselves for a smooth transition to the next generation of leaders,” says Jose Ayuyu.

Aside from work, Joe Jr. dedicates his time to community work and organizations throughout the Marianas. He currently serves as a board member for the Saipan Zoning Board, former chairman for the CNMI Liberation Day Committee, and is a 2015 graduate of the Pacific Century Fellows-Marianas Chapter. He has been featured in Guam Business Magazine’s “40 under 40” recognizing up-and-coming young professionals throughout Guam and the Marianas.

McDonald’s of Guam & Saipan, locally owned and operated by Franchisee’s Joe & Marcia Ayuyu, is the leading food service restaurant chain in the Mariana Islands. First opened in 1993, the organization includes eight McDonald’s restaurants, two on Saipan and six on Guam. In 2016, the Ayuyus acquired all McDonald’s restaurants in Guam and has remained one of the largest employers on the island. (PR)