Charlie Bell
Encyclopedia
Charles Hamilton Bell AO (7 November 196017 January 2005) was an Australia
n 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. Bell was the first non-American to hold that position.
, Australia
, and attended Marcellin College Randwick
. Bell began his career at McDonald's at the age of 15, working at the Kingsford
restaurant in Sydney. At the age of 19, he became the youngest store manager in Australian McDonald's history. At age 29 he was on the board of the Australian subsidiary, becoming its managing director at 33.
He quickly rose through the ranks of corporate McDonald's and when CEO Jim Cantalupo
died suddenly on 19 April 2004, Bell was chosen to take his place. During his short time at the head of the company, its greatest problem was criticism of the healthiness of its food, which was exacerbated by the release of the documentary film Super Size Me
. Bell led efforts to add more healthier choices to the McDonald's menu, and allow parents to substitute juice and apple slices for fries and soft drinks for their children. The "Supersize
" option was also eliminated. During his brief tenure, his initiatives resulted in a successful turnaround in McDonald's fortunes. Bell was also responsible for introducing the McCafe, a coffeehouse franchise that serves gourmet coffee, cakes and pastries and premium teas.
. He had surgery on 7 May 2004, just over two weeks after taking over as CEO. He continued working for a time, but eventually resigned to battle the disease, which became incurable. In December 2004, McDonald's paid for the terminally-ill Bell to be returned to his native Australia in a specially equipped jet. He died shortly afterwards at his apartment in the City with his family around him.
The deaths of Cantalupo and Bell, who died relatively young, have led some to wonder whether being an executive at a company which produced allegedly unhealthy food led to their illnesses, particularly as Bell was known to eat McDonald's products often. Similarly, two successive CEOs of Wendy's
, Jim Near and Gordon Teter, died in their fifties of heart attack
s. It is not known whether Bell's diet contributed to his cancer.
in June 2005, however the award was made retrospective to 17 June 2004.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n business executive. He served as president of the American-based fast-food chain McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
from December 2002, and additionally as chief executive officer
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
from April to November 2004. Bell was the first non-American to hold that position.
Career
Bell grew up in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and attended Marcellin College Randwick
Marcellin College Randwick
Marcellin College Randwick is a systemic Roman Catholic, secondary, day school for boys, located in Randwick, a south-eastern suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. Bell began his career at McDonald's at the age of 15, working at the Kingsford
Kingsford, New South Wales
Kingsford is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Kingsford is located 7 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Randwick...
restaurant in Sydney. At the age of 19, he became the youngest store manager in Australian McDonald's history. At age 29 he was on the board of the Australian subsidiary, becoming its managing director at 33.
He quickly rose through the ranks of corporate McDonald's and when CEO Jim Cantalupo
Jim Cantalupo
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.-Life:...
died suddenly on 19 April 2004, Bell was chosen to take his place. During his short time at the head of the company, its greatest problem was criticism of the healthiness of its food, which was exacerbated by the release of the documentary film Super Size Me
Super Size Me
Super Size Me is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003 during which he eats only McDonald's food...
. Bell led efforts to add more healthier choices to the McDonald's menu, and allow parents to substitute juice and apple slices for fries and soft drinks for their children. The "Supersize
Supersize
Supersize or super size is a very large portion of fast food.Super Size referred to the largest size of French fries and soft drinks available after the large size...
" option was also eliminated. During his brief tenure, his initiatives resulted in a successful turnaround in McDonald's fortunes. Bell was also responsible for introducing the McCafe, a coffeehouse franchise that serves gourmet coffee, cakes and pastries and premium teas.
Illness and death
Soon after becoming CEO, Bell was diagnosed with colon cancerColorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer, is a cancer caused by uncontrolled cell growth , in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Colorectal cancer is clinically distinct from anal cancer, which affects the anus....
. He had surgery on 7 May 2004, just over two weeks after taking over as CEO. He continued working for a time, but eventually resigned to battle the disease, which became incurable. In December 2004, McDonald's paid for the terminally-ill Bell to be returned to his native Australia in a specially equipped jet. He died shortly afterwards at his apartment in the City with his family around him.
The deaths of Cantalupo and Bell, who died relatively young, have led some to wonder whether being an executive at a company which produced allegedly unhealthy food led to their illnesses, particularly as Bell was known to eat McDonald's products often. Similarly, two successive CEOs of Wendy's
Wendy's
Wendy's is an international fast food chain restaurant founded by Dave Thomas on November 15, 1969, in Columbus, Ohio, United States. The company decided to move its headquarters to Dublin, Ohio, on January 29, 2006. It has been owned by Triarc since 2008...
, Jim Near and Gordon Teter, died in their fifties of 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...
s. It is not known whether Bell's diet contributed to his cancer.
Honours
Bell was made an Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
in June 2005, however the award was made retrospective to 17 June 2004.
Other appointments
- Member of the Global Board of Ronald McDonald House CharitiesRonald McDonald House CharitiesRonald McDonald House Charities is an independent 501c3 organization whose mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children across the world...
, serving until 2001. - Member of the Business Council of AustraliaBusiness Council of AustraliaThe Business Council of Australia represents the chief executives of approximately 100 large Australian corporations. It was formed in 1983 by the merger of the Business Roundtable - a spin-off of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia - and the Australian Industry Development...
. - Member of the Advisory Board of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation from 1993 to 1999.
- Chairman of the Small Business Deregulation Task Force, appointed by John HowardJohn HowardJohn Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
(Prime Minister of Australia) in 1996. - Trustee of the Sydney Theatre CompanySydney Theatre CompanyThe Sydney Theatre Company is one of Australia's best-known theatre companies operating from The Wharf Theatre near The Rocks area of Sydney, as well as the Sydney Theatre and the Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre....
, between 1997 and 2000. - Director of the Pact Youth Theatre in Sydney, Australia between 1988 to 1997.
External links
- The Charlie Bell Scholarship Program
- Business Review Weekly ~ 5 June 2003
- The Weekend Australian Magazine ~ 23 October 2004
- Replacing former CEO
- Posthumous
- http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2005/fa010_05.htmlPosthumous by Hon. Alexander DownerAlexander DownerAlexander John Gosse Downer is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was Foreign Minister of Australia from March 1996 to December 2007, the longest-serving in Australian history...
, MP] - Estate Payout
- Dead Aussie McDonald's chief educated by the Marist Brothers