Jim Cantalupo
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Jim Cantalupo
James Richard Cantalupo (November 14, 1943 - April 19, 2004) was an American executive, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of McDonald's Corporation until his sudden death by heart attack at the age of 60.
Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Cantalupo earned a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Champaign. While at Champaign, he was a member of the Zeta Psi fraternity. He became a certified public accountant and worked for Arthur Young for eight years before joining McDonald's. Cantalupo started at McDonald's as its controller in 1974, became vice president in 1975, and senior vice president in 1981. He became president of McDonald's International in 1987 and its CEO in 1991. He retired in 2002 but returned on January 1, 2003 as CEO. Charlie Bell, the company's president and chief operating officer, was chosen to succeed Cantalupo as CEO but stepped down the following November 22 to seek treatment for colon cancer, being succeeded by vice chairman Jim Skinner as CEO and by Michael Roberts as president.
Cantalupo previously served on the board of directors of Sears, Roebuck & Co. He was attending a McDonald's convention in Orlando, Florida when he was suddenly stricken and died.
McDonald's decision to have its stores lower their flags to half-staff to commemorate Cantalupo's death occasioned controversy from U.S. veterans' groups and others, especially in light of mounting combat deaths in U.S. fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.
External links
- McDonald's CEO Cantalupo dies suddenly; Bell succeeds (http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/news/fortune500/mcdonalds_ceo/) - CNN/Money
- Cantalupo's career at McDonald's (http://money.cnn.com/2004/04/19/news/fortune500/mcd_chronology.reut/) - Reutersde:Jim Cantalupo