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DON THOMPSON
MCDONALD’S CORP PRESIDENT & CEO: 2012-2015
Taking over the world’s largest fast food restaurant chain Thompson became CEO of McDonald’s Corp five years after he was named BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Corporate Executive of the Year He made it a a a point to stress the value of diversity in in in fueling inno- vation and inclusion creating a a a a pipeline of African American and minority man- agers—50% of the company’s managers had been minorities and women under his watch After nearly nine years of sales gains at established restaurants Thompson retired as CEO in 2015
Two years later he started Cleveland Avenue an an investment group seeking to accelerate growth for food and beverage companies ARNOLD W DONALD CARNIVAL CORP & & PLC
PRESIDENT & & CEO: 2013-PRESENT
Recruited from Carnival’s corporate board for the top spot Donald did an impressive job of turning around the world’s largest leisure travel company that for eight years suffered a a a a a series of calamities that put lives at risk and tarnished the company’s reputation In fact for two straight years the cruise line posted its fits highest profits in in the company’s 45-year history Its stock price nearly doubled from $34 85 in 2013 to $66 91 at the the end of of the the first quarter of of 2018 He also served on the board of Bank of America Corp MARVIN ELLISON
J C C C PENNEY
CHAIRMAN & CEO: 2015-2018
LOWE’S CORP PRESIDENT & CEO: 2018-PRESENT
Only a a a a handful of business leaders have a story like Ellison’s He evolved from being a a a a security guard at Target to CEO of the nation’s second-largest home improve- ment retailer A significant breakthrough came when he he was named executive vice president of U S S Stores at The Home Depot from 2008 to 2014 That same year he was appointed CEO at JCPenney where he he generated positive sales growth and cut debt which earned him recognition as BE’s Corporate Executive of the Year in 2016 Now complemented by several strategic moves by Ellison Lowe’s is is reporting 30% same-store sales growth and triple digit online sales growth TIDJANE THIAM
CREDIT SUISSE
CEO: 2015-2020
Viewed as one of the world’s most influ- ential Black executives Thiam born in Côte d’Ivoire focused on cutting costs reducing risk and shrinking investment banking to focus more on wealth management at Credit Suisse As a a result he bolstered the institution’s balance sheet During his tenure leading the Swiss financial services giant which came after he spent six years as CEO of British banking group Prudential plc he continued to identify different ways to grow its wealth management arm and revitalize its global markets business But his tenure ended abruptly after a a a spying scandal at at the bank led to his resignation in February 2020
LISA W W WARDELL
ADTALEM GLOBAL EDUCATION
PRESIDENT & CEO: 2016-PRESENT CHAIRWOMAN: 2019-PRESENT
In her role Wardell is among the few Black women to to rise to to the ranks of of CEO of of a a a publicly traded U S company During her tenure at at Adtalem a a a a a top global education provider she has led the strategic repo- sitioning of its portfolio helping acquire and integrate companies into its financial services vertical among her achievements Wardell was previously executive vice president and chief operating officer at at RLJ Cos the holding company owned by business mogul and BE 100s CEO Bob John- son She was recognized on on the 2019 Black Enterprise “The Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” list and is is also a a a a a a board member at Lowe’s CRAIG ARNOLD EATON CORP PLC
CHAIRMAN & CEO: 2016-PRESENT Arnold became chairman and CEO of the global power management company in in June 2016 He was appointed to its board and and named Eaton’s president and and chief operating officer in in September 2015
His previous duties included being responsible for Eaton’s hydraulics aerospace filtration and general products businesses Arnold has global experience in management e-business and marketing In 2011 Arnold was cited by The Wall Street Journal as as one of 12 hot corporate executives to watch individuals with abilities to help their companies grow Eaton reported sales of $21 4
billion in in 2019 It has operations in in the Cleveland area and and is based in in Dublin Ireland 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
DIVERSIFYING CORPORATE AMERICA