Ralph Álvarez | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) |
| Education | Miami Herbert Business School,University of Miami (BBA) |
Ralph Álvarez (born 1955) is aCuban American businessman, an operating partner atAdvent International, a large globalprivate equity firm, and a member of theboard of directors ofEli Lilly and Company. He is the former president andchief operations officer ofMcDonald's.[1]
Álvarez was born inCuba. In 1976, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from theUniversity of Miami School of Business at theUniversity of Miami.[2]
Álvarez began his career in various leadership positions withBurger King andWendy's. In 1994, he joinedMcDonald's, where he served as president of McDonald's Mexico. in 1998, he was forced out of McDonald's following allegations of having an affair with a subordinate.[3]
In January 2004, he returned to McDonald's as president and chief operations officer of McDonald's USA and later, from January 2005 to August 2006, as president of McDonald's North America.[4] Citing chronicknee pain, Álvarez announced his retirement from McDonald's effective December 31, 2009. He was previously rehired and given a second chance after being forced out in 1998 for having an affair with a subordinate.[5]
In 2009, he was appointed a member of theboard of directors ofEli Lilly and Company, aFortune 500 global pharmaceutical corporation. He also serves as a member of the board of directors atLowe’s Companies, Traeger, Inc.,First Watch Restaurant Group, and several private companies. He previously served on the boards of McDonald’s Corporation,Realogy Holdings,KeyCorp,Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc., and Skylark Co., Ltd.
In July 2017, he became an operating partner atAdvent International, a large globalprivate equity firm.[6]
