Less Than 1 Percent of Fortune 500 Companies Now Have Black CEOs

McDonald's CEO Dom Thompson
When McDonald's CEO Don Thompson officially steps down in March, there will be just four black CEOs in the Fortune 500.

Even as politicians, pundits and the business community work to increase the number of women in the C-suite, Thompson’s departure is a reminder that the highest levels of corporate America are also severely lacking in racial diversity. Black CEOs will lead just .8 percent of America’s top companies once Thompson steps down. When Marvin Ellison takes the reins of J.C. Penney in August, that share will grow to 1 percent.