General Mills Names Dana McNabb CEO, Effective January 1
Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb, a 27-year General Mills veteran, will succeed Jeff Harmening as CEO on January 1, 2027.
The maker of Cheerios is promoting from within. General Mills has named Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb its next CEO, effective January 1, 2027.
TLDR
- Dana McNabb becomes General Mills CEO on January 1, 2027.
- She joined the company in 1999 and now serves as COO.
- She succeeds Jeff Harmening, CEO since 2017.
- Quarterly sales fell 3% to $4.4 billion.
A 27-Year Insider
McNabb has spent about 27 years at General Mills. As chief operating officer, she oversees all four of the company’s operating segments. She will succeed Jeff Harmening, who has led the company since 2017.
“Following a robust, multi-year succession planning process, the board is confident that Dana is the right executive to lead the company through its next chapter of growth and value creation,” said Maria Henry, the board’s independent lead director.
The Business She Inherits
General Mills reported $4.4 billion in sales for the quarter ended August 30, down 3%. The company has sold its North American yogurt business, the Muir Glen tomato brand and its Brazil operations. It is leaning into faster-growing pet food, cutting some prices and adding on-trend ingredients like protein.
Why It Matters
General Mills is among the major manufacturers that have pledged to remove synthetic dyes. A new CEO will own the cost and execution of that transition across cereals and snacks. Watch how quickly reformulation and portfolio moves continue under her leadership.
Source: Food Dive. Read the report.