Mcdonald’s (MCD) has weathered the latest global recession unscathed, with solid growth on both top- and bottom line worldwide. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by the nervous investors looking for safe havens, as the company’s market cap has hovered near the $100 billion mark. Jim Skinner, company CEO of 2004-2012, is to thank for much of the company’s strong financials today, as he is often credited for the acclaimed turnaround strategy of ‘Plan to Win’. In July 2012, Jim Skinner handed the CEO title to Don Thompson, who is now expected to keep up the momentum Skinner’s leadership team created. Thompson was also part of the team, most recently as COO.
Thompson, 49, has worked at McDonald’s for 22 years in various positions. He has a B.S. in electrical engineering from Purdue, and he started his career inside the company designing robotics for food transport and control circuits in cooking equipment. He is credited as the mastermind behind the McCafé line of beverages and such value menu innovations as the Snack Wrap. As COO, Thompson also led the effort of remodeling the restaurants to look less plasticky and more sleek and modern. Thompson is the first African-American to serve as Mcdonald’s CEO.