# Jeff Harmening

> Jeffrey L. Harmening is chairman and CEO of General Mills, which he joined in 1994 after earning an MBA at Harvard. His career spans brand marketing, Big G cereal, Cereal Partners Worldwide and U.S. retail leadership. CEO since June 2017 and chairman since January 2018, he oversaw the Blue Buffalo acquisition and portfolio changes. Dana McNabb is scheduled to succeed him as CEO on January 1, 2027, when he will become executive chair.

- **Role:** Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer at General Mills
- **Organizations:** General Mills, The Toro Company, DePauw University, Consumer Brands Association, Minnesota Business Partnership, Cereal Partners Worldwide, Eli Lilly and Company
- **Education:** B.A. in Economics, DePauw University, MBA, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** Led Big G during five consecutive years of cereal market-share gains and record profitability, according to DePauw., Led General Mills during the approximately $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo in 2018., Named a 2025 CED Distinguished Leadership Award honoree.

## Career timeline

- **1989-1992** — Financial analyst at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis.
- **1994** — Joined General Mills after completing his Harvard MBA.
- **2000** — Promoted to marketing director.
- **2003-2007** — Vice president of marketing at Cereal Partners Worldwide.
- **2007** — Became president of the Big G cereal division.
- **Before 2014** — Chief executive officer of Cereal Partners Worldwide.
- **2014-2016** — Executive vice president and chief operating officer, U.S. Retail.
- **2016-2017** — President and chief operating officer of General Mills.
- **2017-06-01** — Became CEO and a director of General Mills.
- **2018-01-01** — Became chairman of the board.
- **2018-04** — General Mills completed its approximately $8 billion Blue Buffalo acquisition.
- **2026-05** — Delivered the Rose-Hulman commencement address.
- **2027-01-01** — Scheduled to become executive chair as Dana McNabb succeeds him as CEO.

## Achievements

- Led Big G during five consecutive years of cereal market-share gains and record profitability, according to DePauw.
- Led General Mills during the approximately $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo in 2018.
- Named a 2025 CED Distinguished Leadership Award honoree.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — On September 30, General Mills announced Dana McNabb would become CEO on January 1, 2027; Harmening will become executive chair.
- **2026-09** — On September 23, reported fiscal 2027 first-quarter net sales of $4.4 billion, flat organic net sales and an 11% decline in adjusted operating profit in constant currency; full-year guidance reaffirmed.
- **2026-05** — Addressed Rose-Hulman’s graduating class on May 30, drawing on family connections to the institute.

## Links

- Website: https://www.generalmills.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-harmening

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jeff-harmening
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21