Álvarez began his career in various leadership positions with Burger King and Wendy's. In 1994, he joined McDonald's, where he served as president of McDonald's Mexico. in 1998, he was forced out of McDonald's following allegations of having an affair with a subordinate.[3]
In January 2004, he returned to McDonald's as president and chief operations officer of McDonald's USA and later, from January 2005 to August 2006, as president of McDonald's North America.[4] Citing chronic knee pain, Álvarez announced his retirement from McDonald's effective December 31, 2009. He was previously rehired and given a second chance after being forced out in 1998 for having an affair with a subordinate.[5]