The family of sacked McDonald's HR boss David Fairhurst have accused the company of pushing him out because he knew about his colleagu...
The family of sacked McDonald's HR boss David Fairhurst have accused the company of pushing him out because he knew about his colleague affair with another employee.
Wigan-born HR executive David Fairhurst was brought to Chicago in 2015 by sacked CEO Steve Easterbrook but left the company's $250million HQ on Monday.
His relatives told MailOnline that they believed Mr Fairhurst was forced to step down because McDonald's officials accused him of knowing about Mr Easterbrook's relationship with a colleague and not doing anything about it.
One relative said: 'David has got caught up in all this and it's not his fault. It's unfair.
'They (McDonald's) are trying to make out that he knew what was going on, but he was in a very difficult position. That was his boss after all. What was he meant to do?'
His family have revealed they think David Fairhurst (pictured left), McDonald's HR chief, was sacked because the company accused him of knowing about CEO Steve Easterbrook's affair with another employee (he is pictured right)
Mr Fairhurst, 51, is pictured with his young son enjoying a McCafe drink
David Fairhurst is pictured with fellow McDonald's executive Melanie Steinbach both wearing Big Mac onesies
Mr Fairhurst, originally from Wigan, is pictured with McDonald's employees on a recent trip to Florida, USA, from his home in Chicago
No reasons have been given for the departure of 51-year-old Mr Fairhurst, who grew up in the north-west of England and relocated to the US under Mr Easterbrook as both men rose through the company's ranks.
He announced his departure after the fast food giant fired its Watford-born chief executive over his consensual sexual relationship with an employee - a sackable offence at the world's largest fast food chain.
Another family source said: 'Steve was David's boss. He took him from here to the US in what was a very well-paid job.
'He was in a very difficult position and has become a victim in all this. There's nothing to suggest that he knew about the affair but that's what McDonald's believe.'
UK CEO of McDonald's Steve Easterbrook is pictured with Ronald McDonald in March 2015
Mr Easterbrook admitted to colleagues he had an affair with another employee, cheating on his wife Susie (pictured), before stepping down
Mr Fairhurst, who lives in Illinois with his second wife and their two young sons, said on LinkedIn: 'I have decided the time has come for me to move on to my next career challenge.'
The identity of the other person involved in the relationship with Mr Easterbrook remains shrouded in mystery as the Watford-born high-flyer lined up PR teams on both sides of the Atlantic, including a crisis management lawyer in the US who specialises in 'celebrity disgrace events'.
The former HR boss owns a £1.2 million five-bedroom property in Hertfordshire, which comes complete with a swimming pool.
It is surrounded by open fields and lies at the end of a muddy track road on a hill overlooking the picture postcard village.
The house is currently let to tenants, fetching a rental price of around £2,000 per month.
Long term village resident, Annie McAllister said: 'We know about David but don't know him very well.
'He' s owned the house for quite a few years but has never been part of village life. We always invite him to the annual Xmas shoot, but he never attends.
'He lives in America, comes to the village occasionally to check on his property, which is lovely, but you'd have thought that with all the money he's got, he could afford something bigger and better.'
A tenant in Fairhurst's home, who did not wish to be named, added: 'We've been here for nearly two years and have only met David once.
'He's seems like quite a decent man. We've been following the news about his departure from McDonald's but haven't got a clue what it's all about.'
The former HR boss is pictured with McDonald's colleagues at an event to celebrate LGBT pride
This picture shows Mr Fairhurst's £1.2million five-bedroom UK home in Hertfordshire. He relocated to Chicago under the instruction of his former boss Mr Easterbrook and rents the property out
Mr Easterbrook's family are in the dark about the circumstances behind his sacking.
Mr Easterbrook's brother-in-law Mark Baxter, 55, who is married to his sister Joanne, told MailOnline: '[It] looks like Steve has been a naughty boy.
'We heard on Sunday that he had been fired. We don't know any other details.'
Mr Easterbrook was dismissed swiftly by the McDonald's board as his 'recent consensual relationship' came to light.
The divorced father-of-three then sent an email to all staff admitting that his behaviour fell short of the standards expected.
He wrote: 'Given the values of the company, I agree with the board that it is the time to move on.'
The love life of the man who grew from branch manager to company chief rocked the global fast-food giant, wiping £3.4billion off its market value yesterday.
Mr Easterbrook, who earned £12.3million in pay and perks last year, leaves the company with six months of his basic salary, worth around £520,000.
But according to filings submitted in the US yesterday, his contract was deemed to have been terminated 'without cause'.
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