McDonalds names new CEO

OAK BROOK, Ill., April 20 (UPI) -- McDonald's named Australian Charlie Bell to succeeds Jim Cantalupo as head of the hamburger giant.

Cantalupo, 60, McDonald's chairman and chief executive officer, died Monday in Orlando, Fla., of a heart attack.

Shareholders and employees will look to Bell, 43, to sustain the turnaround Cantalupo began by revamping stores and menu and responding to increasing personal injury lawsuits over obesity, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Bell was Cantalupo's handpicked successor and becomes the company's first CEO from outside of the United States. He had been president and chief operating officer since late 2002, charged with overseeing McDonald's interests in the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.