SYDNEY, Jan 17 (AFP) - Australian Charlie Bell, former head of the McDonald's global burger chain, has died from cancer here, the company announced Monday.
Bell, 44, who began his career as a 15-year-old part-time crew member in the Sydney suburb of Kingsford, was promoted chief executive and president of McDonald's Corp. responsible for 30,000 restaurants in 119 countries in April last year.
Less than seven months later in November he was forced to step down and was flown home to Australia to continue his battle with colorectal cancer.
Bell was McDonald's youngest Australian store manager at 19 and a vice president of the company eight years later.
In 1993 he was appointed managing director of McDonald's Australia and began heading up the firm's Asia-wide operations in 1999 before being promoted to president of McDonald's Europe, where he was responsible for 6,000 restaurants.
Bell was already chief operating officer in January 2003 before being handed the chief executive position following the death of Jim Cantalupo.
"It is with great sadness that I pass on the news that our dear friend Charlie Bell passed away peacefully at 0730 (2030 GMT Sunday) surrounded by his family," McDonald's Australia Ltd chief executive Guy Russo said.
Bell is survived by his wife Leonie and his daughter Alex.
01/17/2005 02:53 GMT - AFP