BLACK ENTERPRISE Honors Mcdonald's(R) USA President Don Thompson as Corporate Executive of the Year

BLACK ENTERPRISE Honors Mcdonald's(R) USA President Don Thompson as Corporate Executive of the Year

NEW YORK, Oct. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- BLACK ENTERPRISE (BE) has named Don Thompson, president of McDonald's USA, as its 2007 Corporate Executive of the Year. Thompson, who graced the cover of the publication's September issue, was honored during a ceremony held on Oct. 1 in Detroit.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071002/NYTU127 )

"Thompson meets every criterion you can name when it comes to judging an exec's capabilities-be it management skills, creative problem solving, or that indefinable clairvoyance that comes into play when making the right decisions in a volatile marketplace," said BE Founder and Publisher Earl G. Graves Sr. "His strategy for making McDonald's a more profitable company began with making it a better company. The proof is right there on the balance sheet."

Thompson joined McDonald's in 1990 as a restaurant systems engineer and was promoted to project manager in 1991. From there, his rise up the corporate ladder was nonstop. He has served as executive vice present for the franchise's restaurant solutions groups, where he led global innovation orchestrations; he's been president of the company's West Division, where he led an organization of 4,000 restaurants in 16 states; and he was president of the former Midwest Division, where he oversaw 2,200 restaurants. Prior to joining the Midwest Division, he was regional vice president for the San Diego area's 350 McDonald's restaurants. With 40 nationwide regions in total at the time, his strategic plan catapulted the area from No. 39 to No. 2 within a year.

Thompson has led several teams responsible for the financial success of the 13,700 McDonald's locations nationwide, and his contributions have been stellar: Total 2006 revenues reached $7.46 billion, compared with $7 billion in 2005 and $6.53 billion in 2004. In the second quarter of 2007 alone, revenues jumped 12% to more than $6 billion.

"We are proud and honored that BLACK ENTERPRISE selected Don for his outstanding contributions to McDonald's," said Ernie Adair, president of the National Black McDonald's Owner/Operator Association, which represents the African American franchisees operating 1,200 McDonald's restaurants. "Don working through the ranks is a great illustration of the opportunities the company offers and the value of diversity at McDonald's."

BLACK ENTERPRISE presents its annual Corporate Executive of the Year title to a business leader who personifies excellence in their chosen field, and whose exemplary record of achievement serves to inspire future generations of African Americans.

BLACK ENTERPRISE, your ultimate source for wealth creation, is the premier business, investing, and wealth-building resource for African Americans. Since 1970, BE has provided essential business information and advice to professionals, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and decision makers. Every month, BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine provides 3.9 million readers with information on entrepreneurship, careers, and financial management. A multimedia company, BE also produces radio and television programming, business and lifestyle events, Web content, and digital media. BLACK ENTERPRISE is the definitive source of information for and about African American business markets and leaders, and the authority on black business news and trends.

McDonald's USA is the leading foodservices provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80% of the 13,700 McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information please visit www.mcdonalds.com.

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071002/NYTU127
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Source: BLACK ENTERPRISE

CONTACT: Andrew Wadium of Earl G. Graves Ltd., +1-212-886-9598,
wadiuma@blackenterprise.com, for Black Enterprise

Web site: http://www.blackenterprise.com/
http://www.mcdonalds.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment