McDonald’s has strengthened its global leadership team with the appointment of accomplished growth strategist Ugwechi A. Amadi as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, entrusting her with the responsibility of shaping the fast food giant’s long term growth agenda, business transformation and global expansion strategy.

The appointment marks another significant leadership move by the company as it continues to position itself for sustained growth amid rapidly evolving consumer behaviour, digital disruption and increasing competition across the global quick service restaurant industry.

Amadi officially assumed the role in July 2026 and will work closely with the company’s executive leadership to define enterprise priorities, identify new growth opportunities and strengthen McDonald’s strategic direction across its worldwide operations.

Announcing her appointment on LinkedIn, Amadi reflected on her personal connection with the iconic Golden Arches, describing the opportunity as both professionally rewarding and deeply personal.

She recalled childhood visits to her neighbourhood McDonald’s restaurant with her father, saying the memories have come full circle as she now joins one of the world’s most recognised consumer brands to help shape its future.

Expressing enthusiasm about her new responsibilities, she said she looks forward to collaborating across the McDonald’s system while building on the company’s strong foundation to unlock new opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth.

She also noted that listening closely to customers, employees and franchise partners would remain central to her approach as the company continues writing its next chapter.

“I’m looking forward to partnering with colleagues across the McDonald’s System to help shape our path forward, building on a strong foundation while unlocking new opportunities for growth. I’m especially excited to listen and learn from the customers we serve and the people who make the magic happen every day in our restaurants,” she stated.

Before joining McDonald’s, Amadi served as Executive Vice President and Head of Strategy and Performance at LIV Golf, where she partnered directly with the Chief Executive Officer to oversee enterprise strategy, corporate performance, strategic investments, mergers and acquisitions, annual planning and new business development for the global sports and entertainment organisation.

Earlier, she held the position of Senior Vice President and Head of Strategy and Performance at LIV Golf, helping steer the organisation’s long term strategic priorities during a period of rapid international expansion.

Prior to that, Amadi spent more than four years at Nike, where she held several high profile leadership positions, including Vice President and Head of Global Operations Strategy, Head of Enterprise Strategy and Global Communications Strategy.

At Nike, she worked closely with senior executives to lead enterprise wide transformation initiatives, corporate strategic planning, technology and digital transformation, supply chain optimisation, sustainability, new revenue development and long term business growth.

Her career also includes six years at Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where she advised leading global consumer, retail, apparel and hospitality companies on corporate strategy, innovation, customer expansion, portfolio optimisation and organisational transformation.

Throughout her consulting career, she led complex multi market projects while helping multinational organisations identify emerging business opportunities, strengthen customer engagement and accelerate commercial performance.

Recognised for combining strategic thinking with operational execution, Amadi has built a reputation for helping global organisations navigate complex business environments through consumer insight, innovation and data driven decision making.

She describes her leadership philosophy as one that connects ambitious growth strategies with practical execution, working closely with chief executives and senior leadership teams to translate vision into measurable business outcomes.

Her expertise spans growth strategy, geographic expansion, competitive positioning, enterprise transformation, brand development, market entry strategies and executive storytelling, making her one of the emerging strategic leaders within the global consumer goods and retail sectors.

Academically, Amadi brings an equally distinguished background to the role. She earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Literature, with a minor in Biology, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She later completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.

Beyond her corporate responsibilities, she has also contributed to leadership development and education through several governance roles, including serving on the Board of the Association of American Rhodes Scholars and the Editorial Advisory Board of Alpha Phi International Fraternity.

Industry observers believe Amadi’s appointment reflects McDonald’s continued investment in world class leadership as the company seeks to accelerate innovation, strengthen customer engagement, unlock new revenue streams and reinforce its competitive advantage across international markets.

As consumer expectations continue to evolve and digital transformation reshapes the global restaurant business, her extensive experience across strategy, operations, consulting and brand growth is expected to play a pivotal role in helping McDonald’s chart its next phase of sustainable expansion.