A changing of the guard at McDonalds and so far as we know they’re lovin it. The company said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner (right) will retire later this year, handing over responsibility for running the world’s largest burger chain to the company’s president Don Thompson (left). Skinner, who has been CEO since 2004, will step down June 30 after 41 years with McDonald’s (MCD). Donald Thompson, a 22-year McDonald’s veteran who is responsible for global strategy and operations for its more than 33,000 McDonald’s restaurants in 119 countries, will take over the next day, the company said. Thompson, who has long been considered among the top candidates to succeed Skinner, will be the first African American to head McDonald’s since it was founded in 1955.