Ralph Alvarez

President and Chief Operating Officer

As President and Chief Operating Officer, Ralph Alvarez sets the global strategy and directs operations for more than 31,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 118 countries. He leads the worldwide senior management team as they drive business results to create value for McDonald’s and its shareholders.

Previously, Alvarez served as President of McDonald’s North America. In this role, he was responsible for all the McDonald’s restaurants in the U.S. and Canada.

Prior to that, he was President of McDonald’s USA, where he led a team that aligned employees, Owner/Operators and suppliers behind the company’s “Plan to Win” strategy - the catalyst for the turnaround of the U.S. business. 

Alvarez joined McDonald’s in 1994. He has held a variety of leadership roles throughout his career, including Chief Operations Officer and President of the Central Division, both with McDonald’s USA. Before joining the U.S. business, Alvarez was President of McDonald’s Mexico. 

Alvarez currently serves on the President’s Council and the International Advisory Board of the University of Miami, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1976.

He is also a member of the Board of Directors for McDonald’s Corporation and KeyCorp (a national bank-based financial services company).

An active advocate for Ronald McDonald House Charities, Alvarez is a former president of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Mexico. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for Chicago’s Field Museum.