"Ronald McDonald is here to stay" says McDonald's CEO as he gets grilling from shareholders

Model Andrea Roche shares a salad with Ronald McDonald

McDonald's shareholders defied executives at its annual meeting on Thursday, approving a proposal to make it easier to nominate directors to the board of the fast-food chain and taking its new CEO to task over wages, advertising and its food.

There were also repeated requests from shareholders that McDonald's stop using Ronald McDonald, Happy Meals and other promotions geared to appeal to children