St. John’s McDonald’s owner-operator Cathy Bennett named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs

HALIFAX, May 13, 2010 – McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited is pleased to announce that Cathy Bennett, president of Bennett Restaurants and owner-operator of McDonald’s restaurants in the St. John’s area, has been named one of Atlantic Canada’s Top 50 CEOs for 2010 by Atlantic Business Magazine. The award was announced on May 12th at a gala event in Halifax.

Bennett Restaurants was founded by Cathy Bennett in September 1999. Currently she has more than 350 employees at nine locations in St. John’s, Mount Pearl and Goulds. Bennett began her own career with McDonald’s in the fall of 1981 as a part-time crew member at the Torbay Road restaurant.

Rocco Lofano, Vice President, Eastern Canada, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, said “We are very proud to work with a strong and passionate network of franchisees like Cathy Bennett. On behalf of McDonald’s I would like to extend my congratulations to Cathy on her selection as one of the Top 50 CEOs in Atlantic Canada.”

Bennett was one of 10 women CEOs and 12 Newfoundlanders on the 2010 Top 50 CEOs list, which was compiled by a panel of six judges, all Top 50 CEO Hall of Fame inductees, from a larger list of nominees from across the Atlantic region. Nominees were judged according to their corporate, community and industry involvement; their company’s growth in recent years; and their responses to various managerial challenges.

Bennett said “This award really means a lot to me because it celebrates the ongoing success of my company and my employees, as well as the positive impact I have been able to make in my community. I’m so happy to be operating my business in the province where I grew up and that I love so much. I am also very proud to be part of a franchise system that allows and encourages me to give back to the community in so many ways.”

Bennett is currently Vice Chair, Communications and Fund Development, of the board of directors of Ronald McDonald House Newfoundland and Labrador, which is overseeing the establishment of a new Ronald McDonald House for Newfoundland families, adjacent to the Janeway Children’s Health Centre in St. John’s. She is also a Governor with the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, sits on the Board of Directors for NL Hydro, Bull Arm Site Corporation and Nalcor Energy, and is Past Chair of both the St. John’s Board of Trade and St. John’s Clean and Beautiful.

Earlier this year Bennett Restaurants was also awarded the Employer of Distinction Award by the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers Council.

Atlantic Business Magazine has been recognizing Atlantic Canada’s most accomplished business leaders with its Top 50 CEOs list since 1999. To be eligible, nominees must lead a company or organization whose head office is in Atlantic Canada or who are in charge of a provincial/regional head office that has significant decision-making and organizational autonomy.

About McDonald’s Canada McDonald’s is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 77,000 Canadians coast to coast. Approximately 75 per cent of McDonald’s Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald’s Canada, visit the company’s website at www.mcdonalds.ca.

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For more information or to arrange an interview with Cathy Bennett please contact:

Margaret Poole (902) 443-1410 poolecom@ns.sympatico.ca

or

Jason.Patuano
Communications Manager, Eastern Canada, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited
(514) 421-4836
jason.patuano@ca.mcd.com