Operational Excellence with Neil Williamson

take the lead series - Operational Excellence - ep. 01

Neil Williamson has spent a lifetime operating quick serve food retail businesses. Starting on the frontline with McDonalds and rising through the management ranks there, Neil delivered significant growth for Krispy Kreme UK before its sale to JAB Holdings (parent company of Pret and other great brands) and is now leading the charge for Popeyes’ UK expansion.

In this episode of Take the Lead - Operational Excellence, Neil explains the special ingredients that fuelled McDonalds and Krispy Kreme’s success and how he’s seeking to incorporate best practises into his leadership of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. We also talk values and Neil’s ‘anti-values’ - why the best colleagues are often recruited for character and trained for skills.