Max Oliva

Chief Executive Officer, McDonald's South Africa

Max Oliva is Chief Executive Officer of McDonald's South Africa, in the role since July 2025.

McDonald's South Africa is the local franchise of the global fast-food chain and runs more than 400 restaurants. Oliva joined it from SPAR after 30 years at that group and has framed his plan as the Accelerating the Arches strategy.

In the job

  1. McDonald's South Africa announced Oliva as its new chief executive, effective 1 July 2025, succeeding Greg Solomon who had led the business since 2009. Source

  2. Oliva announced Keegan Alicks as chief marketing officer from 1 April 2026, as part of the Accelerating the Arches strategy. Source

Career before

  1. 1995Management trainee, SPAR Group
  2. Logistics director, SPAR South Rand and KwaZulu-Natal divisions
  3. 2015Head of supply chain (secondment), BWG Foods, SPAR Ireland and South West England
  4. 2017Managing director, SPAR KwaZulu-Natal division
  5. 2022-2025Chief executive officer, SPAR Southern Africa

Education

MBA, University of Wales, Cardiff; Bachelor of Technology, Durban University of Technology; Certificate in Logistics Management, Rand Afrikaans University

Sources

  1. businesstech.co.za
  2. businessreport.co.za
  3. dailyinvestor.com
  4. bizcommunity.com
  5. iol.co.za

Facts last checked 3 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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