# Don Thompson

> Don Thompson is the Chicago-based co-founder and CEO of Cleveland Avenue, the investment firm he established with his wife, Liz Thompson, in 2015. An electrical engineering graduate of Purdue University, he joined McDonald’s in 1990 and became its first Black president and CEO in 2012, serving until 2015. His current work combines investing, operating support and mentoring entrepreneurs, alongside the couple’s support for educational opportunity.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Cleveland Avenue
- **Organizations:** Cleveland Avenue, The Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education / The CAFE Group, McDonald’s Corporation (former president and CEO), Purdue University (former trustee), Northern Trust Corporation, Royal Caribbean Group
- **From:** Chicago, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, Purdue University, Honorary doctorate in science, Excelsior College
- **Known for:** First Black CEO of McDonald’s Corporation., Co-founded Cleveland Avenue in 2015., Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumni honoree, 2014.

## Career timeline

- **1984** — Earned his Purdue electrical engineering degree and joined Northrop’s defense systems business.
- **1990** — Joined McDonald’s as a restaurant systems engineer.
- **2006** — Became president of McDonald’s USA.
- **2009–2022** — Served on Purdue University’s Board of Trustees.
- **2010** — Became president and chief operating officer of McDonald’s Corporation.
- **2012** — Became McDonald’s president and CEO on July 1, its first Black chief executive.
- **2014** — Co-founded the Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education with Liz Thompson.
- **2015** — Left McDonald’s effective March 1 and co-founded Cleveland Avenue with Liz Thompson.
- **2021** — Received Purdue’s Dreamer Award.
- **2024** — Don and Liz received the Jane Addams Making History Award for Distinction in Social Service.

## Achievements

- First Black CEO of McDonald’s Corporation.
- Co-founded Cleveland Avenue in 2015.
- Purdue Distinguished Engineering Alumni honoree, 2014.
- Recipient of Purdue’s 2021 Dreamer Award.
- With Liz Thompson, created a $1 million endowment for Purdue’s College of Engineering and Minority Engineering Program.
- With Liz Thompson, received the Chicago History Museum’s 2024 Jane Addams Making History Award for Distinction in Social Service.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — Don and Liz appeared on the University of Chicago Graham School’s Enduring Excellence interview with Tyler Mathisen, published July 1, discussing leadership, partnership and their work.
- **2025-10** — Joined Margaret M. Mueller for a fireside chat titled Cleveland Avenue Today and Tomorrow at World Business Chicago’s Future of Food Summit on October 14.
- **2025-03** — Cleveland Avenue marked ten years since its founding by Don and Liz Thompson.
- **2024-10** — Spoke to founders and investors at Naturally Chicago and Chicago Seed Co.’s Raising Equity and Debt Capital event at Taste 222.

## Links

- Website: https://www.clevelandavenue.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-thompson-67212916a/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/don-thompson
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20