General Mills names Dana McNabb as CEO

USA – General Mills has appointed Chief Operating Officer Dana McNabb as chief executive officer, succeeding Jeff Harmening, who will become executive chair of the company’s board of directors on January 1, 2027.

McNabb will take over after 27 years with General Mills, where she has held senior roles spanning general management, enterprise strategy, marketing and international operations. 

As COO, she currently oversees the company’s four operating segments and key functions, including North America Retail, North America Pet, Foodservice, International, Sales, Supply Chain, and Innovation, Technology and Quality.

She became group president of North America Retail in 2024 and added responsibility for North America Pet in 2025. 

Her previous positions include chief strategy and growth officer, group president of the Europe & Australia segment, president of the US Cereal operating unit and vice president of global marketing for Cereal Partners Worldwide.

“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, independent lead director of General Mills’ board.

McNabb said returning General Mills to profitable growth would be her priority, with a focus on digitally enabled demand generation and supply chain modernisation.

“By building industry-leading, digitally enabled demand generation, and modernising our supply chain, we will fundamentally improve how we operate,” McNabb said.

The leadership change comes as General Mills continues to strengthen its pet business alongside its broader consumer food portfolio. 

McNabb has led North America Pet since 2025, adding to her experience across the company’s international and food operations.

Henry credited Harmening with strengthening General Mills’ portfolio during his tenure, including expanding its presence in the growing pet category.

Harmening has served as General Mills’ chief executive since 2017. 

During his leadership, the company said it delivered more than US$17 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and revamped a third of its portfolio for greater growth.

“It’s been an incredible honour,” Harmening said. “I sincerely thank the entire General Mills team for all they have done to advance our Accelerate strategy, often against the most trying of circumstances.”

Harmening will remain involved in the company as executive chair, supporting the transition and the board’s oversight of General Mills.

“Looking ahead, I am confident that Dana has the vision, urgency and intellect needed to advance our next chapter,” Harmening said. 

“She is the right leader for this time, one that will take our company to the next level.”

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