Change of CEO at General Mills: Dana McNabb will take over on 1 January 2027

Image: General Mills

General Mills is preparing for a significant change in the company’s senior management. The company’s Board of Directors has unanimously approved the appointment of the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dana McNabb, as the new CEO. McNabb will succeed Jeff Harmening, who has served as CEO for approximately 10 years, with effect from 1 January 2027.

Harmening, meanwhile, will assume the role of Executive Chair of the General Mills Board of Directors from the same date. Under this arrangement, Harmening is expected to continue his role on the company’s board and contribute to the leadership transition.

27 years’ experience at General Mills

Throughout his 27-year career at General Mills, McNabb has held senior roles across various areas of the company, including general management, corporate strategy, marketing and international operations.

As COO, he currently oversees General Mills’ four operational segments, as well as North American Retail, North American Pet, North American Foodservice, International operations, Sales, Supply Chain, and the Innovation, Technology and Quality functions.

McNabb took up the role of President of the North America Retail Group in 2024, and in 2025, he also assumed responsibility for North America Pet operations. Previously within the company, he served as Director of Strategy and Growth, Group President of the Europe and Australia Segment, President of the US Grain Operations Unit, and Vice President of Global Marketing at Cereal Partners Worldwide, the Swiss-based joint venture between General Mills and Nestlé.

McNabb, who began his career at General Mills in Canada in 1999, holds a bachelor’s degree in Commerce from the University of Ottawa and a master’s degree in Business Administration from London Business School.

Prioritising profitable growth

Maria Henry, Independent Lead Director of the General Mills Board of Directors, stated that the appointment followed the company’s multi-year succession planning process. Henry highlighted McNabb’s experience across the company’s various business areas and his knowledge of consumers, brands and the sector.

McNabb, for his part, stated that his priority as CEO is to steer General Mills back onto a path of profitable growth. He explained that the aim for the coming period is to transform the company’s operational structure by developing its capacity to generate demand through digital means and modernising the supply chain.

McNabb also noted that during Harmening’s tenure, steps had been taken to develop the company’s digital and technology infrastructure, restructure the portfolio in line with growth targets, and add the Pet category to the portfolio.

Harmening to remain on the board

Jeff Harmening stated that during his tenure as CEO, the focus had been on implementing General Mills’ ‘Accelerate’ strategy, and that he was preparing to hand over the reins to McNabb.

Harmening’s decision to remain on the company’s board as Executive Chair following his tenure as CEO is intended to ensure continuity during the transition period following the leadership change.

With McNabb taking up the role of CEO, General Mills is expected to focus on profitable growth, digitalisation, the modernisation of the supply chain and operational efficiency in the coming period.