Shortly before McDonald’s made public explosive allegations that its former chief executive, Steve Easterbrook, lied about sexual relationships with colleagues, his successor was stating the significance of having clear corporate values.

“It’s important for me to set the tone from the top,” Chris Kempczinski said in a Financial Times interview. “The time to make clear my expectations is early on in my tenure.”

McDonald’s commitments to “put our customers and people first” and “do the right thing” have a new resonance after the Chicago-based fast-food group alleged that Mr Easterbrook, who left last November over the disclosure of a consensual relationship with a colleague, had sexual encounters with three other subordinates and had sent nude images from his company email account.