Richard Ellis

As Vice President, Communications at McDonald’s USA, LLC, Richard Ellis utilizes his twenty years of extensive communications expertise to lead the communications and public affairs strategy for McDonald’s USA. In addition to his leadership with McDonald’s USA, Ellis also plays an ongoing role leading the company’s North American communications platform.

Prior to joining McDonald’s USA, Ellis held the position of Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs at McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited. Before joining the McDonald’s organization, Ellis was President & Chief Executive Officer of Weber Shandwick Worldwide (Canada) Inc., Canada’s leading national public relations consultancy. While at Weber Shandwick, Ellis managed the firm’s business operations across Canada and applied his strategic public relations, issues / crisis management and marketing communications expertise to a wide variety of leading Canadian and international clients.

Ellis began his communications career as Community Relations Officer at Ontario Hydro in Toronto, Canada. Following his time with Ontario Hydro, Richard was Director of Communications at General Mills Restaurants (Canada) Limited and Vice President at Marshall Fenn Communications.

A native of Toronto, Richard is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR), a member of the Management Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada (RMHC), a member of the Advisory Board of Concerned Children’s Advertisers and an accredited member of both the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) and the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC). Richard is also an active member of McDonald’s Global Communications Council and Worldwide Corporate Relations Council.

Ellis graduated from The University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Urban Development.

McDonald’s USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States, serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80% of McDonald’s 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local McDonald’s franchisees. For more information about McDonald’s visit www.mcdonalds.com.