Mcdonald’s boss fired for dating employee set to get £6m payout

Mcdonald’s chief executive officer is likely to receive a payout of at least £6 million after leaving the company for engaging in a consensual relationship with an employee.

The fast food chain said former president and chief executive Steve Easterbrook demonstrated poor judgment.

Mcdonald’s forbids managers from having romantic relationships with direct or indirect employees.

In an email to workers, Mr Easterbrook acknowledged he had a relationship with an employee and said it was a mistake.

“Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is time for me to move on,” Mr Easterbrook said in the email.

The British businessman is due to receive 26 weeks of severance pay and is eligible for a bonus, if the company hits its performance goals. Mr Easterbrook, 52, earned nearly $16m (£12.3m) last year, meaning his payout is expected to be at least £6m.

In exchange for his severance package, Mr Easterbrook has agreed not to work for a competitor for at least two years.

Mr Easterbrook faced scrutiny last year over his £12.3m pay packet.

The company has also been criticised for paying its shop staff low wages.

Mcdonald’s board of directors voted on Mr Easterbrook’s departure on Friday after conducting a review.

The board of directors named Chris Kempczinski, who recently served as president of Mcdonald’s in the US, as its new president and chief executive.

Mr Easterbrook, who is divorced, first worked for Mcdonald’s in 1993 as a manager in London before working his way up the company.

He left in 2011 to become boss of Pizza Express and then Asian food chain Wagamama before returning to Mcdonald’s in 2013, eventually becoming its head in the UK and northern Europe. He was appointed chief executive of Mcdonald’s in 2015.

Mr Kempczinski was instrumental in the development of Mcdonald’s strategic plan and oversaw the most comprehensive transformation of the US business in Mcdonald’s history, said Enrique Hernandez, chairman of Mcdonald’s board, in a statement.

“Steve brought me into Mcdonald’s and he was a patient and helpful mentor,” Mr Kempczinski said, thanking him for his contributions.

Under Mr Easterbrook’s leadership, Mcdonald’s expanded its delivery and mobile payment options to place a great emphasis on convenience.