General Mills’ board of directors has unanimously elected Dana McNabb, the company’s chief operating officer, to succeed Jeff Harmening as CEO, with Harmening becoming executive chair of the board. Both appointments take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
McNabb’s election caps a 27-year career at the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based CPG company and follows what the board described as an extensive succession planning process. As COO, a role she assumed in May, McNabb leads all four operating segments, North America Retail, North America Pet, North America Foodservice and International, along with sales, supply chain and the innovation, technology and quality functions.
“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. “She has a strong track record of success, and a deep understanding of our consumers, our brands, our company and our industry.”
27 years from Canada to the corner office
McNabb served as group president of North America Retail starting in 2024, adding North America Pet in 2025. Her earlier roles include chief strategy and growth officer; group president of the Europe and Australia segment; president of the U.S. Cereal operating unit; and VP of global marketing for Cereal Partners Worldwide, the company’s joint venture with Nestlé. She started her General Mills career in Canada in 1999 and holds a commerce degree from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from London Business School.
“It is an honor and a privilege to lead General Mills into the future,” McNabb said. “Returning the company to profitable growth is the priority, and we know how we’ll get there. By building industry-leading, digitally enabled demand generation, and modernizing our supply chain, we will fundamentally improve how we operate. This is a company with the brands and the people to win — my job is to make sure we do.”
Harmening’s near-decade at the helm
Harmening has led General Mills since 2017. Henry credited his tenure with delivering more than $17 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and revamping a third of the company’s portfolio for growth, including the addition of the pet category through Blue Buffalo.
“It’s been an incredible honor,” Harmening said. “I am confident that Dana has the vision, urgency and intellect needed to advance our next chapter. I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand her ability to drive transformation and build a high-performing culture. She is the right leader for this time, one that will take our company to the next level.”
General Mills’ portfolio includes Cheerios, Nature Valley, Blue Buffalo, Häagen-Dazs, Old El Paso, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Totino’s and Annie’s, with fiscal 2026 net sales of $18 billion.
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