Top Management Changes Of The Past Year

(RTTNews) - McDonald's Corp. (MCD) on Wednesday announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer Don Thompson, effective March 1. The Oak Brook, Illinois-based fast-food giant also named Chief Brand Officer Steve Easterbrook its next CEO.

Thus, McDonald's joined a host of other major companies that witnessed big management changes over the past year. A few of them are detailed below:

In mid-January 2014, Mary Barra replaced Daniel Akerson as the CEO of General Motors Co. (GM), the largest U.S. automaker. She became the first woman to lead a major global auto manufacturer.

In February 2014, software giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) appointed India-born Satya Nadella as CEO. Nadella, who previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise group, replaced Steve Ballmer who had taken over the reigns of the company from Bill Gates.

In July 2014, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world's largest retailer, promoted retail veteran Greg Foran to President and CEO of Walmart U.S., replacing Bill Simon. Foran assumes his new roles on August 9.

In August 2014, Home Depot, Inc. (HD) appointed its U.S. retail head Craig Menear as CEO of the company. Menear replaced Frank Blake in that role. Earlier this month, the world's largest home improvement retailer said its board of directors has elected Menear to the additional role of chairman, effective February 2. Blake is retiring as chairman.

In September 2014, Oracle Corp. (ORCL) elected CEO Larry Ellison to the position of Executive Chairman of the company's Board of Directors and appointed him the company's Chief Technology Officer. The business software maker also promoted both co-Presidents Safra Catz and Mark Hurd to the position of CEO.

In December 2014, Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) announced the retirement of its long time CEO Michael Jeffries. The New Albany, Ohio-based casual apparel retailer also named Non-Executive Chairman Arthur Martinez as executive chairman after it established an office of the chairman.