After a fitting 18-month tenure, Zoe Hamburger has resigned from her high-ranking position at the UK division of McDonald’s.
Hamburger joined the senior leadership team of McDonald’s UK as Chief Restaurant Officer in March 2024, as reported by City AM.
In this capacity, she oversaw the operational aspects of the restaurant business, encompassing delivery, field services, franchising and corporate operations.
Her initial association with the company began over a decade ago in the US, following her work with advertising and public relations agencies on the McDonald’s account, among others.
Patrick Gerber has been appointed as her successor in the role of Chief Restaurant Officer.
McDonald’s UK CEO leaves after 18 years
The news of Hamburger’s departure follows last month’s announcement that Alistair Macrow, CEO of McDonald’s UK and Ireland, had also stepped down.
Macrow, who had been with the company for 18 years, previously held several senior positions including Chief Marketing Officer and Global CMO.
In a LinkedIn post, he stated: “It’s a decision that has been thoughtfully considered over time, and I’m confident that now is the right moment for the business to transition to new leadership. The past 18 years with the Golden Arches have been outstanding, and teenage me could never have imagined the career I’d have with this company, what we’d achieve together as a system, or the valuable friendships I’d make along the way.”
He added: “I still can’t quite believe I’m going to leave behind the world of McDonald’s, but I’m looking forward to the next chapter with my family – and I’ll always be cheering on the business from the sidelines.”
McDonald’s UK profit almost doubles
In August, City AM reported that profit at the UK arm of McDonald’s almost doubled in 2024 as it shed more than 2,000 jobs.
The American fast food behemoth recorded a pre-tax profit of £120m for its most recent financial year, climbing from the £66.3m it delivered in 2023.
However, this figure remained below the £170.8m it secured in 2022.
McDonald’s operating profit also jumped from £10.7m to £75.5m in 2024, having declined from the £165.4m it generated in 2022.
Documents lodged with Companies House also disclosed that McDonald’s turnover dropped in 2024 from £1.83bn to £1.82bn.
Revenue from its company-owned restaurants declined from £942m to £904.9m, whilst income from its licensees rose from £893.5m to £916.8m.
The figures also demonstrate that the average monthly headcount McDonald’s maintained in the UK during 2024 decreased from 26,384 to 24,375.
McDonald’s stated that these workers have been transferred to its franchise operations as part of a broader long-term strategy and have not been made redundant.
This long-term objective aims to ensure 95 per cent of its outlets operate as franchises.
