Charles Hamilton Bell (November 7, 1960 - January 17, 2005) 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 of 2004. Bell was the first non-American to hold that position. November 7 is the 311th day of the year (312th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 54 days remaining. ... 1960 was a leap year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... January 17 is the 17th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... McDonalds Corporation ( NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants [1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ... Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the job of having the ultimate executive responsibility or authority within an organization or corporation. ...

Bell began his career at McDonald's at the age of 15, working at the Kingsford restaurant in Sydney, Australia. 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. Sydney Harbour looking south from the vicinity of the Sydney Harbour Bridge towards the CBD skyline; the Opera House is visible in the background on the left. ...

He quickly rose through the ranks of corporate McDonald's and when CEO Jim Cantalupo died suddenly in 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 sodas for their children. The "supersize" option was also eliminated. James Richard Cantalupo (November 14, 1943 - April 19, 2004) was an American executive, serving as chairman and chief executive officer of McDonalds Corporation until his sudden death by heart attack at the age of 60. ... Super Size Me movie poster Super Size Me is a 2004 documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an independent U.S. filmmaker. ...

Soon after becoming CEO, Bell was diagnosed with colon cancer. He continued working for a time, but eventually resigned to battle the disease, of which he soon died. In December 2004 McDonald's paid for the terminally-ill Bell to be returned to his native Australia in a specially equipped jet. 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 attacks). It is not known whether Bell's diet contributed to his cancer. Diagram of the stomach, colon, and rectum Colorectal cancer includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. ... Wendys is a chain of fast-food restaurants founded by the late Dave Thomas and owned by the United States corporation, Wendys International, Inc. ... A myocardial infarction occurs when an atherosclerotic plaque slowly builds up in the inner lining of a coronary artery and then suddenly ruptures, totally occluding the artery and preventing blood flow downstream. ...

Bell was posthumously made an Officer of the Order of Australia in June 2005. The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order was established on February 14, 1975, when Queen Elizabeth II signed Letters Patent instituting the Order. ...