Steve joined PizzaExpress as Chief Executive in October 2011 after an illustrious 18-year career at McDonald’s. He has ambitious plans for the business, a market leader with 400 restaurants in the UK, a further 50 restaurants in 10 international territories, and annual sales of 25 million branded pizzas through supermarkets across the UK. Given his proven expertise in leading a global business, Steve’s appointment marks the start of an exciting new chapter for PizzaExpress, both domestically and internationally.
 
During his time at McDonald’s Steve held senior management positions at its Corporate Headquarters in Chicago, as UK CEO, and in operations and finance. Most recently he was President of McDonald’s Europe, with responsibility for the company’s 7,000 restaurants in 40 countries.

Following his appointment as CEO of McDonald’s UK in 2006 (with responsibility added in 2007 for Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Ireland), Steve was credited with turning around the McDonald’s UK business, transforming the restaurant experience for the two million customers the company serves there daily. His wide-ranging strategy included a major restaurant design and re-imaging programme, as well as menu innovation and significant investment in employee training, talent and education programmes for the business’ 85,000 staff. He also did groundbreaking work around employment image, redefining for the public what it means to work at McDonald's.

He became Chief Brand Officer for McDonald’s Corporation in 2010, a specially created role that saw Steve assume responsibility for the McDonald’s brand on a global basis, including marketing, developing new menu items and enhancing consumer insights and understanding.

In 2008 Steve was admitted to Oxford University as a Visiting Fellow of the Centre for Corporate Reputation. He is also a member of the steering group of The Prince’s Rainforests Project, which draws together people from governments, business and NGOs to help find practical solutions to tackle tropical deforestation.
Born in Watford in 1967, Steve attended Watford Grammar School for Boys, going on to study Natural Sciences at Durham University. Before joining McDonald’s in 1993, he enjoyed a successful career with Price Waterhouse.