General Mills has announced that its board of directors has elected Jeffrey L. Harmening as chief executive officer of the company, effective June 1, 2017.
The board also elected Harmening to the General Mills board of directors.
Harmening (50) is a 23-year veteran of the company and has served as president and chief operating officer since July 1, 2016.
The appointee succeeds Ken Powell, who has served as General Mills chairman and CEO since 2007. Powell will continue to serve as the company's Chairman for a transition period until his retirement, expected within the next year.
"General Mills has a long tradition of delivering top-tier returns that our shareholders have counted on for generations," said Powell. "We are focused on growth and feel strongly that Jeff is the right leader for the next leg of our journey."
During Harmening's leadership of the US Retail business, the company expanded its position in the natural and organic segment, including the acquisition of Annie's and Epic Provisions.
"General Mills' employees are singularly focused on driving growth and returns for the long term, and it will be a privilege to help them reach that goal," said the new CEO elect.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Gavin Ryan. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
