Dana McNabb to Become General Mills CEO, First Woman in Company History

General Mills confirmed that its chief operating officer, Dana McNabb, will assume the role of chief executive officer on Jan. 1, 2027, becoming the first female leader in the company's 160-year history. Jeff Harmening, who has served as CEO since June 2017, will transition to the position of executive chair of the board on the same day. The board voted to endorse both appointments after a multi-year succession planning process.

McNabb, who began her General Mills career in Canada in 1999, has held senior roles across marketing, strategy, and international operations, and now manages the firm’s North America retail, pet, foodservice, and international segments. She will receive a $1.35 million base salary with a target annual bonus of 180% of that salary. The company faces a challenging packaged-food market, with recent price cuts and a 44% five-year stock decline, and aims to return to profitable growth under her leadership.