James Weston, Director, Global Security Liaison & IDL Security Advisor at McDonald’s Corporation, will deliver an afternoon keynote address at the SECURITY 500 Conference in Washington, D.C. this November.

For 18 years, the SECURITY 500 Conference by Security magazine has gathered top security executives and government leaders for an engaging day of networking, panels and keynote presentations.

In this afternoon keynote, titled “Protecting the Arches: How McDonald’s secures an iconic brand across multiple countries and cultures,” Weston will discuss how his team leverages cutting-edge security solutions in order to defend crews, customers, and surrounding communities in the midst of shifting threats and geopolitical risks. He with also share five strategies for securing large or small brands — regardless of industry. 

As Director, Global Security at the McDonald’s Corporation, Weston directs strategy and alignment for the department. He cooperates closely with the company’s Segment Business Unit to offer security advice and crisis response, provides Executive Protection for the company’s global leaders, and fosters government and private sector relationships. Previously, Weston was Deputy Executive Director for the Secretary of State’s Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) in the Diplomatic Security Service. He was also listed as one of Security magazine’s Most Influential People in Security in 2016. 

The 18th annual SECURITY 500 Conference will unite high-level security executives and their direct reports in Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2025. This one-day leadership conference is open exclusively to security executives, senior management, and their direct reports in both the private and public sectors.

Review the entire conference agenda to discover our full list of expert security speakers and register for the SECURITY 500 Conference today!