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The chief executive officer of McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) will be the main speaker at next year's Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Fish Fry. Don Thompson is a Purdue graduate and current university trustee. He was named CEO of the fast-food company last year.

Editor's Note – A previous version of the above paragraph described Thompson as a former university trustee. That has been corrected to reflect he is a current trustee.

October 21, 2013

News Release

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Don Thompson, president and CEO of McDonald's Corp., will be the featured speaker at the 2014 Purdue Agricultural Alumni Association Fish Fry on Feb. 1 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.

Thompson, a Purdue alumnus, will speak about the path he took from being a Purdue engineering graduate to his current position in leading the world's largest food service company, which employs 1.8 million people worldwide. He also will share a view into “the McDonald's you may not know,” focusing on how the company maintains the quality of the food it serves to 69 million customers in 119 countries daily.

“We're very excited to have Don Thompson as our featured speaker at the Purdue Ag Alumni Fish Fry,” said Jay Akridge, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Purdue Agriculture. “He is an exceptional leader, a Boilermaker, a member of our Board of Trustees and CEO of the world's leading food service retailer. His message will be one our College of Agriculture alumni, friends and stakeholders won't want to miss.”

Thompson has helped drive business results and global strategic innovation across McDonald's since joining the company in 1990. He has held key leadership positions in the company's largest business segment – McDonald's U.S.A. – including as division president, chief operating officer and president. In 2010, Thompson was appointed president and COO and became CEO two years later.

Thompson serves on the boards of Purdue University, McDonald's Corp., Ronald McDonald House Charities, Catalyst and Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital. He also is a member of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club, The Economic Club, World Business Chicago and the Arthur M. Brazier Foundation.

Thompson received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Purdue and an honorary doctorate in science from Excelsior College.

The Fish Fry will be held at the Marsh Blue Ribbon Pavilion beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets will go on sale Nov. 1 for $25 each and tables of 10 for $250. Bus transportation will be available from West Lafayette, and advance parking permits for the fairgrounds are also for sale.

Tickets can be ordered by phone at 765-494-8593 or by downloading the order form at www.ag.purdue.edu/agalumni. Source: Purdue University

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