The Man Running Mcdonald’s In South Africa.

On: June 23, 2025

The Man Running Mcdonald’s In South Africa.

McDonald’s South Africa announced the appointment of Max Oliva as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2025.

The group explained that Oliva brings over three decades of executive experience in retail and supply chain management.

He also has a strong track record of delivering operational excellence, building high-performing teams, and driving sustainable growth.

They said Oliva was selected following a rigorous executive search process to identify a leader with the vision, discipline, and commercial acumen to guide the business into its next transformation phase.

“His appointment comes at a pivotal time for McDonald’s South Africa, as the brand continues to evolve in a fast-changing consumer landscape,” the group said.

“Oliva is uniquely positioned to lead this next chapter with deep local market knowledge, a hands-on leadership style, and a proven ability to align people, performance, and purpose.”

Oliva will succeed Greg Solomon, who has led the group for 15 years. On 14 February 2025, McDonald’s South Africa announced that Solomon and the company had agreed that it was the right time for him to step down.

“Leadership changes are natural for any organisation, and while Greg has built a strong foundation, now is the time to welcome new leadership,” said Daniel Padiachy, Chief Marketing Officer of McDonald’s South Africa.

“Greg has guided the company through both its most successful milestones and its greatest challenges. Over the past 15 years as CEO, he has spearheaded the addition of 230 new restaurants, resulting in a total portfolio of over 400 restaurants.”

Padiachy said that the brand has grown significantly under Solomon’s leadership, becoming stronger, more resilient, and deeply rooted in our community.

He added that Solomon will remain involved with the brand as a board member, ensuring continuity, sharing his invaluable knowledge, and fulfilling his responsibilities as a company director.

“His presence during the next six months as the CEO of McDonald’s South Africa will help facilitate a seamless transition for the incoming CEO, our employees, franchisees, our crew, and customer.”

Oliva’s career

Max Oliva

Oliva holds a Bachelor of Technology from Durban University of Technology and an MBA from the University of Wales, Cardiff.

He has also completed executive leadership development at the University of Stellenbosch Business School and holds a Certificate in Logistics Management from Rand Afrikaans University (RAU).

Previously, he was part of the SPAR group, which he joined in 1995. Oliva joined the group as a management trainee, serving in various logistics roles across three divisions.

He served as the Logistics Director in the South Rand and KwaZulu-Natal divisions for 10 years before being seconded to BWG Foods in 2015 to head up the supply chain function for SPAR in Ireland and South West England.

Oliva was appointed Managing Director of the SPAR KwaZulu-Natal division in 2017 and made Chief Executive Officer of SPAR Southern Africa in 2022.

McDonald’s explained that his tenure was marked by commercial turnaround, organisational alignment, and successful strategic execution across multiple markets.”

“Throughout his career, Oliva has been recognised for his inclusive, values-driven approach and ability to unite diverse teams around shared goals,” the group explained.

They said that these attributes, combined with his strong operational background, made him the clear choice to lead McDonald’s South Africa forward.

“Oliva’s leadership is expected to accelerate innovation, enhance guest experiences, and further strengthen McDonald’s market position.”

“His deep operational expertise, strategic mindset, and people-first philosophy are well aligned with the company’s ambition to deliver long-term, inclusive growth across the country.”