Doug is President of McDonald’s Europe and is responsible for the company’s 7,000+ restaurants in 40 countries.

Doug’s current role builds on a 33 year career with McDonald’s that has included senior roles in Worldwide Supply Chain and Development for McDonald’s Corporation, and previously in finance and operations.

Before taking on this role in October 2011, Doug was the Corporate Executive Vice President of Worldwide Supply Chain and Development for McDonald’s Corporation, where he had responsibility for McDonald’s $23 billion procurement of food, packaging and premiums, worldwide purchasing and supplier relationship strategies, food safety and quality systems strategy, and restaurant development strategy around the world.

Prior to this role, Doug served as Corporate Senior Vice President Worldwide Supply Chain and Menu Solutions, leading Global Menu Strategy framework in addition to 1Supply Chain and Quality Systems Functions.

Doug began his career at McDonald’s in 1978 with the Accounting Department in Columbus, Ohio where he lead the establishment of McDonald’s Columbus Accounting Centre and served in a number of positions in the accounting/financial area in both the field and home office, including Zone Controller and Functions Department.

He has held a variety of leadership positions throughout the U.S business including Director of Operations in the Columbus Region, Regional Vice President of the Greenville Region, and Vice President and General Manager in both the Ohio and Chicago Regions. As he progressed through the organisation, Doug gained a breadth of financial knowledge, an in-depth understanding of our restaurants and a proven ability to collaborate with owner/operators, suppliers and company teams.

He is a graduate of The Ohio State University, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.


Hide bio.

Jean-Pierre Petit is CEO of McDonald’s France and Division President of the Southern Division for McDonald’s Europe.

Jean-Pierre began his career at McDonald’s in 1995 as Senior Vice-President, Marketing and Communications for McDonald’s France, having managed the McDonald’s account at BDDP, advertising agency for 10 years.

He has been key in the success of McDonald’s in France notably with the attention he gave to the architectural development of the restaurants, the adaptation of the products to the French market and his transparency in terms of communication.

In March 2002, Jean-Pierre was appointed as Deputy Managing Director of McDonald’s France, and in 2004 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the French company. In 2005, he was appointed President of the Southern Division and in May 2007, Executive Vice President of McDonald’s Worldwide.

Jean-Pierre started his career at the advertising agency TBWA in 1972. He moved to Young & Rubicam as Account Director and Development Director, before being appointed President of SNIP4 (Young & Rubicam subsidiary).

In 1984 he founded BDDP (today TBWA Paris) with Jean-Claude Boulet, Jean-Marie Dru and Marie-Catherine Dupuy, which within 10 years became one of the top three French communication companies.

Jean-Pierre lives in Paris and is married with three children.


Hide bio.

Bane Knezevic is CEO & President McDonald’s Deutschland Inc, and President of the Western Division for McDonald’s Europe.

He is responsible for management of the German market, and governance of the Western Division of McDonald’s Europe.

Bane started his career with McDonald’s in 1988 as a Management Trainee in London. For the next 18 years he worked in a number of countries across Europe, including the UK, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria, Hungary and Germany.

He held the position of Managing Director in several markets including Hungary, before being promoted to Chief Restaurant Operations Officer, McDonald’s Europe.

In July 2005, Bane was appointed President of McDonald’s Western Europe Division and CEO of McDonald’s Germany.

Bane is a Law graduate from the University of Belgrade, and speaks six languages. He is a Serbian national and is based in Munich, Germany.


Hide bio.

Jill McDonald is CEO & President of McDonald’s UK, and President of the Northern Division for McDonald’s Europe. She is responsible for management of the UK market, and governance of the Northern Division of McDonald’s Europe.

Jill McDonald joined McDonald’s in 2006 as Chief Marketing Officer UK & Northern Division. Her remit included Marketing, Product Development, Customer Innovation, Business Strategy & Insight and leadership of McDonald’s Olympic 2012 sponsorship in the UK.

Jill holds a 1st class Business Studies degree & began her marketing career at Colgate Palmolive as a graduate trainee. She joined British Airways as a Brand Manager in 1990 and held a number of senior marketing positions in the UK and overseas.

In June 2008 Jill was voted “Marketer of the Year” by the Marketing Society. Jill is married and has two sons.



Hide bio.

In 1988, Khamzat joined McDonald’s Russia as the company’s first Russian Restaurant manager, responsible for McDonald’s Pushkin Square restaurant, the system’s busiest restaurant in the World.

In 1990, Khamzat was promoted to Deputy General Director of Moscow McDonald’s, in 1997 he became General Director and in 1999 he was named President, McDonald’s Russia, followed in 2000 with additional responsibilities for Belarus and in 2002 for Ukraine.

In 2005, Khamzat was promoted to President McDonald’s Eastern Europe & CEO McDonald’s Russia.

Khamzat graduated from the Moscow Plekhanov University of National Economy in 1977 and worked for the food service division of the Moscow City Government as a restaurant manager. He has received numerous State and Public Awards and is Chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charities (Russia).


Hide bio.

David has enjoyed a rich and varied career in Human Resources.

After joining Lucas Industries as a Graduate Trainee, David became the youngest Group Manager at H J Heinz, European Director of Recruitment and Leadership Planning for SmithKline Beecham, and Corporate HR Director for Tesco.

In May 2005 David joined McDonald’s Restaurants as Vice President of People – the first time McDonald’s had appointed a HR professional at this level in the UK.

In January 2007 he was promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief People Officer (Northern Europe) with responsibility for HR, Training, Education, Customer Services and Environment.

In January 2011 he was further promoted to the newly created position of Chief People Officer, Europe with responsibility for all People strategies and practices for more than 6,900 restaurants employing over 375,000 people in 39 countries.

David is a Chartered Companion of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development where he is currently serving as its Vice President of Learning, Training and Development. He is the Chairman of People 1st; a Fellow of the RSA; a Fellow of Lancaster University Business School; Chair of the Advisory Board to the Centre for Professional Personnel and Development (CPPD); and a Fellow of the Sunningdale Institute – a virtual academy of leading academics and thought leaders created to advise and advance public service.

In 2007 David was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, where he is a Visiting Professor; and in 2010 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by Middlesex University Business School.

In 2007 and 2008 he secured the No.1 position in Personnel Today’s ‘Top 40 HR Power Players’ list; and in 2010 he was voted the UK's ‘Most Influential Practitioner’ by readers of HR Magazine for the third consecutive year.

In 2008 David received the Institute of Internal Communications’ ‘Business Communicator of the Year’ award – a title previously given to leading business luminaries such as Justin King, Richard Branson and Anita Roddick. David was the first HR professional to receive this prestigious award.

In 2011, David was appointed to act as a Commissioner for the UK Commission for Employment and Skills by Business Secretary Vince Cable.

David frequently appears on television and radio, and as a speaker at public and private events.


Hide bio.

Jerome Tafani is Chief Financial Officer for McDonald’s Europe.

He is responsible for all strategic financial direction and investment decisions for McDonald’s across Europe, including responsibility for IT and franchising. 

Jerome joined McDonald’s France in 1996 as a Director within the Finance department. In 2001, he became CFO of the Finance, IT, Security & Insurance and Legal Department.

He was promoted to Senior Vice President in 2004, before being appointed CFO for France and Southern Europe in June 2005. In France and in Southern Europe, Jerome was instrumental in maximising innovative strategies, such as remodels and McCafés, to drive profitability for both McDonald’s and its franchisees.

Prior to joining McDonald’s, Jerome spent three years as a Group Controller for Econom International and has also held positions with Vedior Bis and Deloitte & Touche.

He holds an MBA from Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (ESSEC).


Hide bio.

Pierre Woreczek is Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy at McDonald’s Europe and is responsible for sustainability, marketing and food strategy & sports partnerships. He also leads the Consumer & Business Insights department and the Design Studio.

Pierre began his career with McDonald’s in 1996 as Director of Marketing and Research at McDonald’s France. In 1999, he was promoted to Vice-President, Marketing and Research, before joining Cadbury Schweppes as Director-General of Marketing and Development.

He returned to McDonald’s in July 2003 as Vice-President of McDonald’s European Food Studio, heading up the company’s food and beverage strategy and brand innovations.

In July 2005, Pierre was promoted to Chief Brand and Strategy officer managing the strategic positioning of the brand and continuing overall management of the Food Studio

Pierre has over 20 years experience in Marketing, R&D and advertising including six years at Jacobs Suchard and eight years in advertising.

Pierre lives in Paris and is married with three children.


Hide bio.

Julian Hilton-Johnson is Chief of Staff to the President, McDonald’s Europe and Vice President – Corporate Relations for Europe.

As Chief of Staff, Julian is responsible for the co-ordination of our pan-European planning activities, working with a broad range of McDonald’s business and functional leaders. He also has responsibility for our Corporate Relations strategies in Europe including media relations, external communications and public affairs, as well as internal communication and crisis management.

Julian joined McDonald’s in 1999 and has held various positions in corporate relations, human resources and legal services in McDonald’s Europe, Northern Europe and the UK. He has also acted as Chair of the UK Pension Scheme and a trustee of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Most recently he was responsible for Human Resources in Europe.

Prior to McDonald’s, Julian held positions within Diageo at Burger King Europe, Middle East, Africa and at Freshfields, solicitors, in London and Madrid. He was previously a Research Assistant at the House of Commons.

Hide bio.

Mahrukh is Vice-President, General Counsel of McDonald’s Europe. Mahrukh joined the European team in May 2011 with responsibility for leading the region’s legal function.

Mahrukh joined McDonald’s legal team in Oak Brook, Illinois in 2000. As part of her role, she led the teams managing real estate development in the Central Division and East Division of McDonald’s USA. Before her appointment in Europe, Mahrukh held the position of General Counsel of the Central Division, McDonald’s USA.

Prior to joining McDonald’s, Mahrukh spent 4 years working as an Associate at the law firm of Schwartz, Cooper, Greenberger and Krauss and one year as a judicial clerk.

Mahrukh received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago in Hyde Park, Illinois and her J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mahrukh is based in Geneva with her husband, Faiyaz, and her two sons, Ammar and Nabeel.


Hide bio.

Karl’s current role at the company builds on a 20 year career at McDonald’s which has included senior roles in finance and operations as AVP Finance for Central Europe/Asia, AVP Operations for Central Europe/ Asia, MD for the Ukraine and Director of Finance for Central Europe. Prior to his appointment as Chief Supply Chain Officer, Karl was MD for McDonald’s Italy where he successfully led a major turnaround of the business.

In his current role, Karl has responsibility for the management of product supply and availability, price negations and contingency for the company’s 6,800 restaurants in 39 countries.

Prior to joining McDonald’s, Karl held positions at ITT Corporation, ITT Courier, Alcatel and RHI-VMAG.

Karl has an MBA in Finance/Audit from the Vienna School of Economics and holds executive qualifications in Retail Marketing, Mergers & Acquisitions and Activity based costing from Insead. Karl lives in Zurich and is married with one son.



Hide bio.