Category: Companies with 7,500 employees or more

Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer

Company and Headquarters: McDonald's Corp., Oak Brook, Ill.

Key HR Challenges: Needed to institute succession planning throughout the global food-service retailer. Also needed to develop and manage talent in the organization, and improve the employee image and performance.

Key HR Accomplishments: Led the effort on talent management to concentrate on leadership programs within the company; helped to overhaul compensation and rewards programs; improved employee image; spearheaded a unique employee talent contest that bolsters employee morale and McDonald's image; member of the board of directors of the HR Policy Association, where he developed and chairs the committee on executive compensation.