Jim Cantalupo
Encyclopedia
James Richard Cantalupo 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.
, Illinois
, the eldest of an Irish-Italian family. His father was an optometrist and mother a homemaker. Cantalupo earned a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
fraternity.
He married, and had a daughter and son.
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 lost the top job to Jack Greenberg
and retired in 2002, but returned on January 1, 2003 as CEO. Shareholders were not impressed, thinking that his appointment indicated that the company was "inbred". However, credit was given to Cantalupo for the company's recovery in the succeeding 12 months: "he devised a plan" which included "accelerating the introduction of healthier foods, such as salads".
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 and Company
. He was attending a McDonald's convention in Orlando, Florida
when he was suddenly stricken and died.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
executive, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of McDonald's Corporation until his sudden death by heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at the age of 60.
Life
Cantalupo was born in Oak ParkOak Park, Illinois
Oak Park, Illinois is a suburb bordering the west side of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is the twenty-fifth largest municipality in Illinois. Oak Park has easy access to downtown Chicago due to public transportation such as the Chicago 'L' Blue and Green lines,...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, the eldest of an Irish-Italian family. His father was an optometrist and mother a homemaker. Cantalupo earned a degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi
Zeta Psi
The Zeta Psi Fraternity of North America was founded June 1, 1847 as a social college fraternity. The organization now comprises about fifty active chapters and twenty-five inactive chapters, encompassing roughly fifty thousand brothers, and is a founding member of the North-American...
fraternity.
He married, and had a daughter and son.
Career
He became a certified public accountantCertified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
and worked for Arthur Young
Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the "Big Four" accountancy firms, along with Deloitte, KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers ....
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 lost the top job to Jack Greenberg
Jack Greenberg
Jack Greenberg may refer to:* Jack Greenberg , American civil-rights figure* Jack M. Greenberg, executive...
and retired in 2002, but returned on January 1, 2003 as CEO. Shareholders were not impressed, thinking that his appointment indicated that the company was "inbred". However, credit was given to Cantalupo for the company's recovery in the succeeding 12 months: "he devised a plan" which included "accelerating the introduction of healthier foods, such as salads".
Charlie Bell
Charlie Bell
Charles Hamilton Bell AO was an Australian business executive. He served as president of the American-based fast-food chain McDonald's from December 2002, and additionally as chief executive officer from April to November 2004...
, 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
Jim Skinner
James Alan Skinner is an American business executive. He is the President and CEO of McDonald's Corporation. Skinner began his career with McDonald's in 1971 as a restaurant manager trainee in Carpentersville, Illinois.-Biography:...
as CEO and by Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts may refer to:*Michael Roberts , British poet, writer, critic and broadcaster*Michael Roberts , British historian...
as president.
Cantalupo previously served on the board of directors of Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, Roebuck and Company
Sears, officially named Sears, Roebuck and Co., is an American chain of department stores which was founded by Richard Warren Sears and Alvah Curtis Roebuck in the late 19th century...
. He was attending a McDonald's convention in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
when he was suddenly stricken and died.