McDonald's appoints Homer to lead UK and Ireland operations

By Jed Nykolle Harme

September 15, 2026

Photo Credits: Shutterstock

McDonald's has announced that Lee Homer has been appointed chief restaurant officer, responsible for leading restaurant operations across the UK and Ireland. It matters because it puts a named operational leader in charge of a UK and Ireland business that has been mid-way through a multi-year, multi-million euro investment cycle across its restaurant estate.

McDonald's UK and Ireland is part of the US-headquartered McDonald's Corporation, a global quick-service restaurant franchisor. Its Irish arm alone operates 95 restaurants, run by 19 local franchisees since the first Irish restaurant opened on Dublin's Grafton Street in 1977.

Homer joins from Terra Firma Capital Partners, where he was chief operating officer for McDonald's Nordics, having previously held positions at Waitrose and PizzaExpress. He succeeds Patrick Gerber, who becomes chief restaurant officer for McDonald's USA.

Homer said: "It is a privilege to be returning to McDonald's and joining the UK & Ireland business at such an exciting time. McDonald's is built on operational excellence, strong franchisee partnerships and incredible people, and I am looking forward to working alongside our restaurant teams and franchisees to continue driving innovation and delivering great experiences for our customers every day."

McDonald's UK & Ireland chief executive Lauren Schultz said: "I am delighted to welcome Lee back to the McDonald's system and to the UK & Ireland business. His breadth of experience, leadership and passion for operational excellence will be a valuable asset as we continue to strengthen our restaurant operations and build on the momentum across the business."

The appointment follows a €40 million investment across McDonald's Irish restaurant estate announced last November, targeting 1,000 additional Irish jobs over four years, a commitment made under Homer's predecessor as UK & Ireland chief.

McDonald's said its Social and Economic Impact Report found the business supports 11,640 jobs and contributed €414.6 million to the Irish economy in 2023, a substantial existing footprint for the incoming restaurant operations chief to build on.

For the sector, appointing an operations specialist with direct multi-market experience, rather than a generalist executive, signals that quick-service chains increasingly treat operational leadership as a distinct discipline from brand or commercial strategy roles.

Source: The Caterer / Hospitality Ireland