Dana McNabb to lead General Mills’ retail, pet segments

USA – General Mills Inc. has appointed Dana McNabb as Group President, North America Retail and North America Pet, in a significant leadership move set to take effect on June 1, 2025. 

The promotion marks a key strategic alignment for the global food company, placing its largest and one of its fastest-growing segments under the helm of a proven executive.

“Time and again, Dana’s proven herself a strong leader, general manager and brand builder, all strengths that will serve us well in the growing pet food category,” said Jeff Harmening, Chairman and CEO of General Mills. 

“Dana brings a strategic rigour to all that she does, and I’m confident that she will grow the pet segment through remarkable consumer experiences and bring new innovations to the market as well.”

McNabb’s expanded role will now include oversight of the North America Pet segment, alongside her current leadership of North America Retail (NAR). 

Liz Mascolo, Segment President for North America Pet, will report directly to McNabb under the new structure.

McNabb’s rise within General Mills has been marked by a series of transformative roles.

In 2023, she was appointed Group President of NAR, and in 2021, she served as Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, leading enterprise growth initiatives. 

Earlier, she revitalised the Europe & Australia segment and drove U.S. cereal to category leadership for the first time in 15 years.

Her new role underscores General Mills’ commitment to elevating performance in the dynamic pet food market, where consumer preferences continue to evolve rapidly. 

Strategic realignment amid broader transformation

McNabb’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for General Mills as the company embarks on a multiyear global transformation initiative aimed at improving productivity and reducing operational costs. 

Approved on May 20, the initiative will involve targeted organisational actions and is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2028.

The plan will result in estimated charges of US$130 million, with approximately US$70 million to be recorded in the current quarter, largely related to severance expenses. 

A company spokesperson acknowledged the difficulty of the restructuring but emphasised its importance: 

“While this news represents hard choices, they are necessary to fund product innovation … and position General Mills for long-term success.”

Despite facing headwinds, including softer demand for salty snacks and pet food in North America and intensified competition from private-label brands, the company remains focused on streamlining operations to better align with consumer needs. 

In March, General Mills cut its annual sales and profit forecasts in response to these pressures. Shares have declined more than 15% year-to-date, trading near a 52-week low at US$54.13.

Still, analysts note that the company’s fundamentals remain strong, with a market capitalisation nearing US$30 billion and a robust EBITDA of US$4.2 billion.

General Mills has also sustained a dividend for 55 consecutive years, offering a yield of 4.5%.

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