Mr.Bell who was second in command as president and chief operating officer could earn an additional 2million in salary and bonuses.McDonald’s paid Mr.Cantalupo 4.7million last year while Mr.Bell his righthand manearned 2.6million.Both were rewarded with big bonuses for turning around the company’s ailing fortunes within one year by introducing healthier productsimproved service and the “I’m lovin’it”jingle.McDonald’s Australia boss Guy Russowho began his career with Mr.Bell at the Kingsford restaurantsaid his mate would often tell their fellow staff how to run the company.“There were a lot of people who were older than us，”he said.“When we were about 16we were telling everyone how to run the company at that age.We thought we would one day.”
Mr.Bell progressed quicklybecoming Australia’s youngest store manager at 19.In 1993he was appointed managing director of McDonald’s Australia and began heading up the firm’s Asiawide operations in 1999.Mr.Bell was widely accepted as the heir apparent when he was promoted in December 2002from head of European operations to McDonald’s global headquarters in Chicago.At the McDonald’s board meeting on April 19he was appointed to lead the company that operates 30000restaurants in 118countries with 400000staff worldwide.“Charlie Bell has worked side by side with Jim during these past 16months to revitalise McDonald’s all over the world”read a board statement released after the succession vote.“He is ideally suited and prepared to continue Jim’s remarkable focus and discipline on our business.”
A funny thing happened to Charlie Bell on the way from Kingsfordnear Sydneyto Chicago in the US.Everyone is talking about Charlie’s story this week—how a 15yearold Sydney school kid was a parttimer at McDonald’sjust like a million other Aussie school kids.But this one became the youngest store manager at 19and this week became the CEO of McDonald’s worldwide at 43—againthe youngest ever.A former schoolmatePeter Byrnessays“He was always singleminded about the whole McDonald’s thingnever frightened to do things his way or to back his own feelings.He was always his own person and you couldn’t help but admire that about Charlie.”
Australia’s ConsulGeneral in New YorkKen Allennoted the close working relationship and friendship Mr.Bell and Mr.Cantalupo enjoyed.Mr.Cantalupo translated Mr.Bell’s favourite Australian slang.Mr.Allen said there was no better man than Charlie Bell to carry on the great legacy left by Jim Cantalupo.“He’ll continue to make McDonald’s one of the most successful companies in the world”he said.Mark Kalinowski of another company welcomed Mr.Bell’s appointment.“He has worked at McDonald’s for 30years.As they say ketchup runs in his veins”he said.
While Mr.Cantalupo worked hard to revitalise the McDonald’s brand and achieve a healthier image in the age of obesityhis critics said it was not enough.He tried to downsize McDonald’s hugehighcalorie meals by phasing out Super Size fries and bucketsized drinksand introduced salads and a breakfast sandwich.Wall St.commentator Art Hogan said“Here’s McDonald’s trying to change its image and promote itself as providing a healthy diet and the big boss dies of a heart attack.What does that say about the company’s meals to the average consumer？A lot of people could be avoiding Big Macs in future.”
After the successful turnaround of its U.S.business McDonald’s Corp.faces a new challenge—the sudden death of CEO Jim Cantalupo puts a young and unproven leader in charge of the world’s largest restaurant company.Charlie Bell has risen impressively within McDonald’s and helped craft the strategy Cantalupo employed to revive its flagging U.S.sales and performance.But after spending most of his career in regional posts in his native Australia Bell must prove himself quickly in a job he was elevated to ahead of schedule.Analysts and franchisees attending the McDonald’s convention in OrlandoFla.voiced confidence Mr.Bell will be able to keep the company on the upswing.Nonetheless even after rising 15cents to S｜ 26.90on Tuesday afternoon the stock price was down 2per cent since Monday’s abrupt transitionshowing that shareholders have a wait and see outlook.
It was a focus on the front counters of the more than 13000U.S.McDonald’s—a back to basics approach emphasizing more efficient operations and swifter service—that enabled McDonald’s under Cantalupo to lift sagging sales and revive a lacklustre brand.The fast food giant slowed its breakneck expansion pace and sharply boosted U.S.sales with help from three new products—entreesized saladsMcGriddles breakfast sandwiches and whitemeat chicken nuggets—as well as by keeping more of its domestic restaurants open late at night.The company reached out to younger consumers with a new global advertising campaign and the tag line “I’m lovin’it.”It also has been trying to attract more dietconscious consumers with not only its salads but last week’s announcement that it will introduce adult Happy Mealsfeaturing saladbottled water and a pedometerand fruit and lowerfat options for its kids’Happy Meals.
Independent consultant Dick Adamsa former McDonald’s franchising executivesaid“There’s a general sense that Mr.Bell will go along with Cantalupo’s agenda and planbecause he’s one of the adopters of that plan.”But his impact as CEO “remains to be seen.”Mr.Bell had been the heir apparent since the company promoted him from head of European operations to president and chief operating officer in December 2002as part of the shake up that saw CEO Jack Greenberg depart.The company said Mr.Bell would have help in the transition from Andrew McKenna the presiding director of McDonald’s board who was named to take over Mr.Cantalupo’s other duties as chairman.But Mr.McKenna 74is unlikely to hold that post for the long term.
从烤汉堡的小伙计到麦当劳的掌门人
一个澳大利亚人，在郊区一家餐馆烤汉堡刷厕所，如今登上了掌管全世界麦当劳帝国的宝座。现年43岁的查利·贝尔15岁时在悉尼金斯格罗夫的麦当劳餐厅打工，如今成了麦当劳第一位非美国籍掌门人。在他的朋友和导师吉姆·坎塔卢波（现年60岁）突然去世后几个小时，他被任命为麦当劳国际公司首席执行官。坎塔卢波是在美国佛罗里达州出席特许经销商会议时突发心脏病去世的。