Jeffrey L. Harmening
Summary
Jeffrey L. Harmening is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of General Mills, serving as CEO since June 2017 and chairman since January 2018. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/corporate-governance/board-of-directors/default.aspx?ItemId=f598ec68-038d-45ad-8d7c-3a49a31abb76&utm_source=openai))
Biography
Harmening joined General Mills in 1994 and has held leadership roles across marketing, cereal, yogurt, foodservice, and international operations. Before becoming CEO, he served as president and chief operating officer, after earlier leading General Mills’ U.S. retail business and its Cereal Partners Worldwide joint venture with Nestlé. ([generalmills.com](https://www.generalmills.com/about-us/leadership/executive-team-harmening?utm_source=openai)) As head of Cereal Partners Worldwide, he worked with a business operating across roughly 130 countries, and as leader of the Big G cereal division he oversaw a portfolio realignment that the company said supported sales and market-share growth. Harmening holds a bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and he serves on the board of The Toro Company. ([generalmills.com](https://www.generalmills.com/about-us/leadership/executive-team-harmening?utm_source=openai))
Notable achievements
- Led General Mills’ entry into the pet-food business through the approximately $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo in 2018. ([yahoo.com](https://www.yahoo.com/news/general-mills-buy-pet-food-110836514.html?utm_source=openai))
- Launched the company’s Accelerate strategy, which General Mills says has reshaped nearly one-third of its portfolio and expanded digital and cost-efficiency capabilities. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/General-Mills-Outlines-Progress-on-Accelerate-Strategy-at-CAGNY-Conference/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
- Oversaw portfolio changes that included expanding pet food while later selling the North American yogurt businesses to Lactalis and Sodiaal. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2025/General-Mills-and-Lactalis-Receive-Regulatory-Clearance-for-U-S--Yogurt-Transaction/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
- Previously led a Big G cereal portfolio realignment associated by General Mills with sustained sales, market-share, and profitability growth. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/Jeff-Harmening-Named-Chief-Executive-Officer-of-General-Mills/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
Problem areas / controversies
- General Mills faced weaker consumer demand, private-label competition, and slower snack and pet-food trends; in March 2025 the company reduced its annual sales and profit outlook. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/general-mills-cuts-annual-sales-forecast-3936407?utm_source=openai))
- Fiscal 2026 brought a 5% decline in net sales and a 2% decline in organic net sales, with the company also reporting substantial impairment and exit charges. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/General-Mills-Reports-Fiscal-2026-Fourth-quarter-Adjusted-Results-in-Line-with-Company-Expectations/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
- The Blue Buffalo acquisition expanded General Mills’ exposure to pet food, but the segment’s fiscal 2026 organic net sales declined 3%, indicating that the category has not been a uniformly strong growth engine. ([investors.generalmills.com](https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2026/General-Mills-Reports-Fiscal-2026-Fourth-quarter-Adjusted-Results-in-Line-with-Company-Expectations/default.aspx?utm_source=openai))
- The company’s pricing actions during the inflationary period contributed to consumer value concerns and weaker volumes, a challenge Harmening has publicly acknowledged through the company’s focus on competitiveness and price gaps. ([investing.com](https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/general-mills-cuts-annual-sales-forecast-3936407?utm_source=openai))