Reply #4: Well they didn't spend too much time looking for the replacement [View All]

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http://www.forbes.com/business/commerce/newswire/2004/04/19/rtr1336519.html

NEWSMAKER-McDonald's new CEO began serving burgers at 15
Reuters, 04.19.04, 11:57 AM ET

By Brad Dorfman

CHICAGO, April 19 (Reuters) - Charlie Bell, the first non-American to lead McDonald's Corp. (nyse: MCD - news - people), started serving hamburgers and french fries at a McDonald's restaurant in Australia at the age of 15.

From that typical teenage part-time job, Bell rose through the ranks to run McDonald's businesses all over the world and become president and chief operating officer of the world's largest restaurant company last year.

He was appointed president and chief executive after McDonald's CEO Jim Cantalupo died suddenly on Monday.

"He has worked for McDonald's for nearly 30 years. As they say, ketchup runs in his veins," Mark Kalinowski, restaurant analyst at Smith Barney, said in a research note. He rates the stock a "buy."

Bell, 43, has been seen as the heir apparent since he was appointed to the job of second-in-command. But Cantalupo's unexpected death from an apparent heart attack led to Bell becoming chief executive years before the company had planned, analysts said.

"At the time of Cantalupo's appointment in early 2003, we believed he would remain CEO for three to five years with a likely transition of the job to Charlie Bell," John Ivankoe, restaurant analyst at J.P. Morgan Securities, said in a research note. He rates the stock "overweight."
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