Alistair has been with McDonald’s for 11 years and in the last few weeks has been appointed Corporate Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer for the High Growth Market segment.
After graduating from De Montfort University, Leicester in 1993 with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies and the Diploma of The Market Research Society he joined leading UK retailer Marks & Spencer. After 7 years managing large department stores he moved into the Corporate Marketing team where he led development of the National Marketing Plan. In 2002 he started a 5 year stint with Blockbuster Video, initially as Head of Marketing Planning before becoming Marketing Director during which time he established the company’s first On-line business. Recognising the strategic importance of this business Alistair chose to focus all his attention on developing this business in the role of Managing Director, Blockbuster On-line.
In 2007 Alistair joined one of his life-long favourite brands when he became UK Marketing Director at McDonald’s. Three years later he was promoted to the Executive team taking on the additional responsibility for Food Development. In 2013 a further expansion of responsibility to include Business Strategy and Insight saw Alistair promoted to SVP Chief Marketing officer. Over the next 18 months the briefs for Digital and Corporate Communications and Public Affairs were added to his responsibilities.
During his time leading UK marketing the market has enjoyed substantial growth, doubling in size and achieving 48 consecutive quarters of growth whilst significantly enhancing all brand metrics. Alistair and the marketing team have been consistently recognised by the UK Marketing industry for their work with personal highlights being awarded The Marketing Society’s Long Term Marketing Excellence Award, The British TV Advertising Advertiser of the year and Alistair personally being recognised in 2016 as the UK’s Marketing Leader of the Year.
Alistair was born and brought up in a small rural village in Norfolk, gaining his love of retail working behind the counter of his parents’ village store. From an early age he had a strong love of all competitive sports with a particular interest and strength in cricket which he went on to captain his University in.
In 1998 Alistair married his wife Jan who continues to ensure that he is fully aware of his many ‘development opportunities’ keeping his feet firmly on the ground at all times. They live together with their 13 year old daughter Holly in a tiny Essex village next door to their favourite pub.
Leisure time is spent with the family whenever possible engaging in shared passions of sport, music, food and Alistair’s great love of fine wine. If all of these are combined with a trip to the Caribbean then life is complete.
